[00:00:04]
>> NOW FROM MCALLEN CITY HALL, A MEETING OF THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION.
>> [NOISE] WELCOME TO MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR MAY 10TH, 2021.
[CALL TO ORDER]
IF YOU COULD STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, [INAUDIBLE] INVOCATION BY COMMISSIONER OMAR QUINTANILLA.>> LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU'VE BESTOWED UPON OUR CITY, ITS RESIDENTS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, AND ESPECIALLY REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
LORD, I PRAY FOR YOUR PROTECTION, LORD, TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS OR THAT ARE IN HARM'S WAY EVERY DAY, PRAY FOR YOUR PROTECTION UPON THEM.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR THE MEETING THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY.
PRAY THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS.
LORD, HELP US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ENTRUSTED UPON US.
I PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
>> SO I DON'T FORGET BEFORE I START, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS HAD A BIRTHDAY ON MAY 6TH.
IS THAT CORRECT, COMMISSIONER? THAT IS GREAT.
COMMISSIONER HADDAD IS GOING TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY ON MAY 18TH.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. WE'LL HAVE CAKE LATER, I HOPE.
[BACKGROUND] WE HAD SAID TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION AWARD, I KNOW THE RECIPIENT'S HERE. IS KAY HERE? NO? WE'RE NOT DOING IT? I HAVE IT IN MY AGENDA.
NO? WE'LL DO THAT PRESENTATION LATER, I GUESS.
PROCLAMATIONS, WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK.
[PROCLAMATIONS]
VIVIAN VELASQUEZ TAMEZ IS HERE AND COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.[Mental Health Awareness Week]
IN OTHER LADIES.>> DR. [INAUDIBLE] HAD A GREAT 35TH BIRTHDAY.
>> OH, THANK YOU. THIRTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY.
VIVIAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> OUR DA, I CAN'T RECOGNIZE WITH HIS MASK, OUR DA IS HERE.
THERE HE IS. WELCOME. [BACKGROUND]
>> ROLL THAT OUT. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.
[NOISE] WE ASKED CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FABRIC OF MCALLEN.
THEY LEARN ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS IN SCHOOL, WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THEIR CO-WORKERS TO GET THE JOB DONE, AND PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITIES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT, THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE THESE CONDITIONS CAN BE JUST AS INDEPENDENT AND PRODUCTIVE AS EVERYONE ELSE ACROSS OUR GREAT CITY.
NEARLY ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS WILL EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION IN A GIVEN YEAR.
SOME OF THE DIAGNOSES INCLUDE MAJOR DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR, AND ANXIETY DISORDERS.
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN AFFECT A PERSON AT ANY POINT IN THEIR LIFE, BUT YOUNG PEOPLE AND MILITARY VETERANS EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AT RATES HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.
[NOISE] PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK TO ACQUIRE CHRONIC DISEASE AND FOR ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES.
PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ALSO HAVE A CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF CHILDREN WHO DIE BY SUICIDE EXPERIENCED AN UNDERLYING MENTAL CONDITION.
SINCE MENTAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL TO EVERYONE'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE CHARGE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND SEEK HELP WHEN NECESSARY.
AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND RECEIVE THE RIGHT TREATMENT AND SUPPORT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF SYMPTOMS AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IS ONE OF THE MAIN BARRIERS TO SEEKING HELP AND TREATMENT.
GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS WILL REDUCE THE STIGMA BY INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
I, JAVIER VILLALOBOS, CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MCALLEN BY THE VIRTUE OF AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AND ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JUNE AS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
[00:05:06]
I THINK THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS OPENED UP A LOT OF OUR EYES IN TERMS OF WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.AS IVY STUDENTS, WE'RE TAUGHT THAT WE LIVE THROUGH THIS RIGOROUS CURRICULUM THAT'S MEANT TO PREPARE US FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, WE'VE LEARNED THAT SOME THINGS ARE ALSO JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN SCHOOL.
THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY HAS TO MAKE CLEAR A POINT THAT ONE'S MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE A PRIORITY, THAT YOU SHOULD BE OPEN TO FINDING SOLUTIONS, AND BE OPEN TO RECEIVING HELP FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP YOU, AND TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
THAT IF YOU HAVE SURVIVED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, YOU ARE NOT A MENTAL HEALTH SURVIVOR.
YOU ARE MENTAL HEALTH THRIVER.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? COME ON, JUST A FEW.
WE'RE HERE SUPPORTING VIVIAN AND THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS WHO HAVE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB NOT ONLY TODAY BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE ALSO HAVE BELINDA HERE FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO IS THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS A PROSECUTOR, WE'VE WORKED HARD IN TRYING TO SEPARATE, WHEN WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS.
A LOT OF TIMES, A CRIME DOESN'T FIT THE PERSON, THE PERSON DOESN'T FIT THE CRIME BECAUSE OF THE MENTAL ILLNESS THAT ONE IS GOING THROUGH.
WE'RE HERE IN SUPPORT THAT WE KNOW THAT MENTAL ILLNESS DOES EXIST TODAY.
NOT ONLY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
BUT IT'S ABOUT US COMING TOGETHER JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS WITH THIS RESOLUTION AND ENTICING EVERYONE, NOT ONLY OUR MEMBERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY BUT EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE KNOW THAT IT EXISTS, BUT LIKE THE YOUNG LADY SAID, WE HAVE TO DO MORE IN MAKING SOMETHING AVAILABLE TO THAT PERSON AND TO THAT FAMILY SO THEY CAN HELP THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY.
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AND WE'VE SEEN MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS AND IT'S NOT GOOD.
SO WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT, VIVIAN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO WITH THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS.
THESE STUDENTS CAN RECOGNIZE WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SHOULD ALSO AS ADULTS AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, AND USE ALL OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THE HELP AND BEING, ABLE TO HAVE THEM HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE, AND BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHIN US, AND ALSO HELP AND TREAT THEM IN THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU, ALL. THANK YOU.
>> TOO OFTEN, ISSUES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH FALL UNDER CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> SO TELL YOUR LEGISLATURE TO SPEND MORE MONEY IN FUND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND QUIT MAKING THEM CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES.
>> THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
>> I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE UP THERE RECEIVING THIS, BUT THIS IS THE OLDER TEXANS MONTH [LAUGHTER] AND CHRISTIAN [INAUDIBLE] ARE YOU HERE? COMMISSIONER ZAMORA IS GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
[Older Texans Month]
[NOISE] ANYBODY UP HERE FOR THAT? [LAUGHTER].>> WELL, I SHOULD, SHOULDN'T I? [LAUGHTER].
>> DOING WELL. GOOD TO SEE YOU [NOISE] GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATIONS THAT ARE OF TEXAS COUNTY HIDALGO CITY MCALLEN.
[NOISE] WHEREAS, HERE IN THE LONE STAR STATE, WE HAVE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR OUR FELLOW TEXANS WHO COME BEFORE US AND HELP BUILD THIS STATE INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, RAISE A FAMILY, AND ENJOY THE GOLDEN YEARS OF LIFE.
OLDER TEXANS ARE IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ABILITIES, EXPERIENCE, WISDOM, AND RESILIENCE, ENRICH OUR LIVES AND HELP MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER.
[NOISE] WHEREAS, IN ORDER TO ENSURE OLDER TEXANS ARE ABLE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE [NOISE] IN EVERYTHING OUR GREAT STATE HAS TO OFFER, THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION AND THE NETWORK OF AGING SERVICES PROVIDERS PARTNER TO OFFER OLDER TEXANS MANY RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES TO THE FULLEST.
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE INDEPENDENT LIVING [NOISE] RESOURCES LIKE HEALTHY MEALS, AND HOME, AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES.
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY SUPPORT SUCH AS SAFETY, OMBUDSMAN, SERVICES, MENTAL, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH [BACKGROUND]
[00:10:01]
SERVICES, AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.OLDER TEXANS MAY WORK, VOLUNTEER, LEARN, TEACH, AND STAY CONNECTED WHILE ALSO STAYING HEALTHY AND SAFE.
WHEREAS, AS ALL TEXANS HAVE FACED THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE NOVEL CORONA VIRUS COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TEXANS [NOISE] WHO ARE OLDER HAVE ALSO CONFRONTED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES FROM THE ELEVATOR DANGERS THEY EXPERIENCE FROM COVID-19 TO THE SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES THAT THEY HAVE BRAVELY FOLLOWED BY FOREGOING GATHERINGS AND VISITS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN ORDER TO STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY.
OLDER TEXANS HAVE EXEMPLIFIED THE IRREPRESSIBLE SPIRIT OF THE LONE STAR STATE.
[NOISE] WHEREAS, DURING MAY, AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN [NOISE] WAS CONDUCTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS OLDER TEXANS MAKE EVERY DAY TO STRENGTHEN OR SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO CELEBRATE THEIR HISTORIES, TALENTS, AND EXPERIENCE, I ENCOURAGE ALL TEXANS TO CONNECT WITH THE OLDER TEXANS IN THEIR LIVES [NOISE] AND SHOW APPRECIATION FOR THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN KEEPING TEXAS STRONG FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I LIKE WORKING WITH SOME OTHER CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY MCALLEN, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THIS MONTH, MAY 2021 AS OLDER TEXANS MONTH.
>> [INAUDIBLE] SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS?
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGERS AND CITIZENS.
THANK YOU FOR PROCLAIMING MAY AS OLDER TEXANS MONTH.
THE MCALLEN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TAKES GREAT CARE TO ENSURE THAT THE SENIOR CITIZENS IN THIS REGION ARE PROVIDED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE QUALITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING.
AFTER A YEAR OF ADJUSTED OPERATIONS, WE ARE HAPPY THAT THE MCALLEN COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE OPEN TO OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY.
ONE SERVICE THAT IS VITAL TO THE OLDER TEXANS OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY IS THE AMIGOS DEL VALLE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR 46 YEARS BY PROVIDING DAILY MEALS PER REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.
IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 THE NIGHT, THE STRENGTH OF OUR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF MCALLEN AND AMIGOS DEL VALLE WHICH HAS SPANNED OVER 40 YEARS, WAS APPARENT AS BOTH ORGANIZATIONS WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE OVER 160,000 MEALS VIA A DRIVE-THROUGH FORMAT TO REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.
AS OF APRIL 2021, WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE RETURNED TO THIS TRADITIONAL MEAL DISTRIBUTION THAT OUR [NOISE] PARTICIPANTS ENJOY AT ALL THREE COMMUNITY CENTERS, LARK, PALMVIEW AND LAS PALMAS.
CITY OF MCALLEN STAFF AT THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS STRIVE TO CURATE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, CULTURE AND VOLUNTEERISM AMONG OUR SENIORS.
PROGRAMS SUCH AS AEROBICS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, CAR BINGO, JAZZ OR SIZE, AND WALKING CLUB ARE JUST A FEW THAT KEEP OUR PARTICIPANTS ACTIVELY ENGAGED.
IN CELEBRATION OF MAY AS OLDER TEXAN MONTH, AND THIS PROCLAMATION, THE TEAMS FROM ALL MCALLEN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMUNITY CENTERS HAVE PLANNED SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS FOR OUR REGISTERED SENIOR CITIZEN PARTICIPANT.
ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH, FROM 9:00 AM TO NOON, EACH COMMUNITY CENTER WILL HOST AN OPEN HOUSE.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO VISIT ANY OF OUR THREE FACILITIES TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR SERVICES, OUR PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PROCLAIMING MAY AS OLDER TEXAN MONTH.
THE MCALLEN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT [BACKGROUND] IS DEDICATED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND QUALITY PROGRAMS TO ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.
MYSELF AND MY FELLOW PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE MS. [INAUDIBLE] CHAVEZ, OUR LAS PALMAS SENIOR PARTICIPANT AND FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTOR SERVICES THAT ARE JOINING US TODAY.
CRYSTAL LUGAL, MARIBEL GONZALES, DAISY SALINAS, LASERO REESE, FRANK JIMENEZ, AND GUSTAVO SALINAS.
>> ON BEHALF OF ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER, AND MAYOR, AND CITY OF MCALLEN [NOISE] FOR REALLY TAKING CARE OF OUR SENIORS DURING THIS PAST YEAR, IT'S BEEN A WILD YEAR FOR EVERYONE AND ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS WHO HAVE SUFFERED A LOT OF ISOLATION AND SO ON BEHALF OF APS, WE JUST WANT TO URGE YOU IF YOU SUSPECT ANY ABUSE, ANY NEGLECT, OR FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL, IT IS A [NOISE] FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL CALL, AT 1-800-252-5400.
>> THANK YOU. AMIGOS DEL VALLE DOES A GREAT JOB THEIR SENIORS AND I'M ON THE BOARD, BUT OMAR'S BEEN MY ALTERNATE AND ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS FOR LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND DOES A GREAT JOB REPRESENTING CITY OF MCALLEN AND AMIGOS DEL VALLE, IMPORTANT SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
NEXT ITEM IS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.
[00:15:03]
[NOISE] MR. QUINTANILLA [NOISE] IS GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION AND [NOISE] MS. ALONZO, WOULD YOU STEP FORWARD DIRECTOR ALONZO AND HER CREW.>> HOW'S IT GOING? HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M HONORED TO GIVE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES, AND SERVICES THAT ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE,
[National Public Works Week]
AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF MCALLEN.WHEREAS, THESE INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES, AND SERVICES COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORT OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING, IMPROVING, AND PROTECTING OUR NATION'S TRANSPORTATION, WATER TREATMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION, WASTEWATER COLLECTION, TRANSMISSION, AND TREATMENT, STORM-WATER FACILITIES, SOLID WASTE AND DEBRIS COLLECTION, AND DISPOSAL, RECYCLING COLLECTION, AND PROCESSING [NOISE] PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES OF FACILITIES ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WHEREAS, IT IS THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST FOR THE CITIZENS, CIVIC LEADERS, AND CHILDREN IN MCALLEN [NOISE] TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND MAINTAIN A PROGRESSIVE INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS' PROGRAMS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS, THE YEAR 2021 MARKS THE 61ST ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.
WHEREAS, THIS WEEK WE PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PUBLIC WORK PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES, AND RECOGNIZE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MADE TO OUR NATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, OMAR QUINTANILLA, CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MCALLEN, TEXAS, BY THE VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AND ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION, CITY MANAGEMENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
THIS YEAR, NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IS DESIGNATED FROM MAY 16TH THROUGH THE 22ND.
IT'S TIME [NOISE] TO CELEBRATE THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS PUBLIC WORKS.
IT CALLS ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS IN COMMUNITY LIFE.
IT SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE PRESTIGE OF THE OFTEN UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR SOCIETY, THE PROFESSIONALS, AND HARD WORKING EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE THE PUBLIC EVERY DAY WITH QUIET DEDICATION [BACKGROUND] TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE STRONGER TOGETHER AS A THEME FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.
BY WORKING TOGETHER, THE IMPACT CITIZENS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONAL CAN HAVE ON THEIR COMMUNITIES IS MAGNIFIED AND THE RESULTS IN THE ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS ONCE THOUGHT UNATTAINABLE, SUCH AS ESTABLISHING A COVID-19 TESTING SITE, VACCINE IMMUNIZATION CLINICS, IMMIGRATION INFLUX, A WINTER STORM, A HURRICANE, AND ALL IS ATTAINABLE WITH SOLID PARTNERSHIPS WE'VE BUILT WITH HIDALGO COUNTY, HIDALGO COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT, MCALLEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, HOMELAND SECURITY, BORDER PATROL, THE NATIONAL GUARD, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, MCALLEN PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND MANY MORE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS IN MCALLEN.
WE INVITE YOU TO COME OUT AND JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S PUBLIC WORKS WEEK ON FRIDAY, MAY 21ST AT OUR PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY WITH A DRIVE-THROUGH EVENT FROM 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM.
WE ARE LOCATED IN 4201 NORTH BENSON ROAD, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE [NOISE] TO THE BEAUTIFUL STAFF THAT PUTS THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
PUBLIC WORK GUYS DO A GREAT JOB AND WE TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED.
IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO DAYS WITHOUT THEM FOR THE CITY TO FALL APART.
[NOISE] APPRECIATE ALL YOU'RE DOING, ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE.
WAIT A MINUTE, WE HAVE ONE MORE [OVERLAPPING].
NEXT ONE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.
MR. GARCIA, YOU'RE HERE AND COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.
[Historic Preservation Month]
[00:20:03]
YOU ALSO WANT ME UP THERE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION? [BACKGROUND][NOISE]>> I'M HONORED TO BE MAKING THIS PROCLAMATION [NOISE] THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE OUR HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IT'S A WAY TO PREVENT US FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE PAST.
THEREFORE, AS THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE COUNTY OF HIDALGO IN THE CITY OF MCALLEN, I'M HERE TO MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ESTABLISHED IN MAY, AS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH IN 1973, AS A WAY TO PROMOTE HISTORIC PLACES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTILLING NATION AND COMMUNITY PRIDE.
WHEREAS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH CAN INSTILL AWARENESS OF THE LOCAL HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS AND LANDMARK TO OUR RESIDENTS OF MCALLEN AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS RELEVANT FOR THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION, BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, AND FOR AMERICANS OF ALL AGES AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND ALL ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.
[NOISE] WHEREAS IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THE ROLE OF HISTORY IN OUR LIVES AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS IN HELPING TO PRESERVE THE TANGIBLE ASPECTS OF THE HERITAGE THAT HAS SHAPED [NOISE] OUR PEOPLE.
WHEREAS MCALLEN CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE ITS COMMITMENT TO THE PRESERVATION AS IT GROWS AND DEVELOPS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, TANIA RAMIREZ, CITY COMMISSIONER FOR CITY MCALLEN, BY THE VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION, SO DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.
>> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU.
JIM, ONCE WE GO TO THE OLDER TEXAS WE CAN MOVE ON TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, JOE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION THAT WE GET FROM THE CITY.
WE APPRECIATE THE HELP WE GET FROM THE STAFF AS WE GO THROUGH AND WORK.
WE TRY TO IDENTIFY PROPERTIES AND PLACES THAT ARE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT, AND WE TRY TO SAVE THEM.
WE TRY TO GET THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE, AND AS I SAID, TO REMEMBER THESE [NOISE] DIFFERENT PROPERTIES AND BUILDINGS SO THAT AS WE ALL HAVE GROWN UP WITH THEM AND SEEING THEM AND [NOISE] WE LEAVE, THERE WILL BE LEFT FOR THOSE BEHIND US TO READ ABOUT, ENJOY, AND BE ABLE TO SEE.
WE JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT WE GET FROM THE STAFF IN THE CITY.
>> THAT'S IT. I WAS THINKING BEFORE I FORGOT, WHEN WE HAD THE WORKSHOP, WE HAD A ONE TV CAMERA DOWN TO THE BACK.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE IF YOU HAD A DESIGNED TRAILER OR WHATEVER IT IS [LAUGHTER] THAT THEY PUT IT ON IT? THEY HAVE ALL FOUR IN ORDER TO HAVE FOURTH, BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ANYTHING AT THE END, OR ELSE YOU GOT TO TURN AROUND.
[NOISE] IF YOU COULD DO ONE THAT HAD FOUR SIDES TO IT, TV AND FOUR SIDES AND PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE, IT WOULD MAKE THE [BACKGROUND] MEETINGS MUCH BETTER. IT'S MY SUGGESTION.
>> GET THE ENGINEER. [LAUGHTER]
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT SOUNDS LIKE BUDGET TIME. [LAUGHTER]
>> THOSE ARE THE TVS AREN'T THAT EXPENSIVE.
>> IT DOES AFFECT YOUR FOUR SIDES.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE PAID FUN STUFF.
>> I WAS THINKING THAT WHEN I FORGOT TO SAY IT AT THE END.
>> RULE NUMBER REPORT 11, THERE IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
>> BUT NO, THAT'S RULE [OVERLAPPING].
>> OR WE CAN TAKE IT TO AUDIT.
>> IT WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY THOUGH. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO, I KNOW IT. IT'S NOT A REALLY AGENDA ITEM.
IT'S UP TO THE CITY MANAGER TO DO IT.
>> APPARENTLY, HE HAS [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S JUST SUGGESTION. [LAUGHTER].
>> WE'RE [NOISE] READY TO START THE REGULAR MEETING.
THE FIRST ONE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING [NOISE] TO DISCUSS ITEMS AND
[AGENDA ITEM PUBLIC COMMENT (Individuals wishing to speak regarding an agenda item on today's agenda, please contact City Secretary before 5:00pm)]
[1. PUBLIC HEARING]
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MCALLEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. MR. GARCIA?IT'S THE ONLY ONE ROUTINE ITEM.
[A) ROUTINE ITEMS]
THAT'S A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A CHURCH AND [NOISE] 2029 DATEPALM AVENUE.THIS IS RENEWAL HAS BEEN TO CHURCH FOR QUITE A WHILE.
[00:25:01]
>> IT'S BEEN A CHURCH FOR A WHILE, YES OR NO..
>> [INAUDIBLE] CHURCH IN THERE.
>> IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO APPEAR IN OPPOSITION TO THIS [NOISE] REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR AN INSTITUTION USED FOR A CHURCH?
>> I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MOTION SAYING FOR ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> SAME MOTION CARRIED. [NOISE] NEXT LINE WAS REZONINGS IN ITEM B1 AND 2 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN.
[B) REZONINGS]
I TAKE IT THOSE ARE TAX CREDITS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.>> THEY'RE NOT. THEY ACTUALLY JUST HAD A LOT OF OPPOSITION.
>> OKAY. IN ITEM B2 THEN. DO YOU PRESENT THAT, SIR?
[3. Rezone from C-3 (general business) District to R-3A (multifamily residential apartment) District: 4.34 acres out of Lot 2, Block 7, Steele and Pershing Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas; 4601 North McColl Road.]
>> YES, SIR. THIS IS RESULT FROM C-3 TO R-3A AT 4601 NORTH MCCOLL.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF NORTH MCCOLL, JUST SOUTH OF VIOLET AVENUE.
ADJACENT ZONING IS AO TO THE SOUTH, R-3A TO THE WEST AND NORTH, AND C-3 TO THE EAST.
IT IS AN IRREGULAR LOT TONING ABOUT 4.34 ACRES.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING R-3A FOUR AND 84 UNITS SENIOR APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THE ITEM WAS HEARD AT THE APRIL 20TH PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING.
THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
SINCE THEN, WE HAVE RECEIVED ONE LETTER AND OPPOSITION FROM THE ADJOINING APARTMENT OWNER TO THE WEST STATING THERE ARE TOO MANY APARTMENTS IN THE AREA.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
>> IS THE APPLICANTS HERE? [OVERLAPPING] THE PERSON WHO OPPOSED IN IT SHOWED UP, NO? OKAY. [OVERLAPPING] ANY DISGUISED IN? [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK THEY SAW IT IN OLD TEXAS STATE.
>> WELL, AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT WE WERE TRYING TO CHANGE THE ZONING AFTER THEIR TAX CREDIT HAD BEEN APPROVED.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO DO?
>> SO THEY SUBMIT FOR REZONING.
THEY HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF A REZONING APPLICATION WHEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION.
THEN IF THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT, THEY ACTIVATE IT, AND SO THEY TELL STAFF TO MOVE ON.
AS OF NOW, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE.
I THINK WE HAD RECOMMENDED FOUR BACK IN FEBRUARY.
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S BEEN ACTIVATED.
>> IF THEY DON'T GET IT, IT STAYS AS [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF WE APPROVE IT, IT DOESN'T GO INTO ASSIGN A ZONING ORDINANCE ANYWAY, SO WE WOULD WAIT UNTIL THAT HAPPEN.
THAT BE A SYSTEM TO DO THAT SO WE WOULD HAPPEN ABOUT.
IS THAT OKAY FOR YOUR APPLICATION?
>> OKAY. SO I WOULD NOT APPROVE UNLESS THEY [OVERLAPPING].
>> OR WHOEVER'S MAYOR THAT TIME.
>> YEAH, [OVERLAPPING] IN OUR JUNE ITEM.
>> ALL THAT IS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> I MIGHT CHECK WITH LEGAL, AND IF IT GETS APPROVED AND THEN THE REZONING ORDINANCE, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM, GETS APPROVED AS WELL, DOES IT HAVE TO BE SIGNED RIGHT NOW? THERE'S NO MECHANISM TO DO WHAT?
>> IF I DON'T SIGN IN, I DON'T SIGN IN.
>> THAT WOULD BE A VETO AND THEN HAVE TO OVERRIDE THE VETO. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> WELL, THEY SHOULD HAVE MANDAMUS.
>> WHATEVER WE NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM DEZONING SOMETHING.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE A TAX CREDIT WE DO, BUT WE WANT TO PROVE IT.
IT'S LIKE WE CAN GET THE TAX CREDIT.
>> OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THE SAME TIME MOTION CARRIED. THANK YOU.
>> THEN WE NEED A MOTION TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE FOR ITEM B THROUGH [OVERLAPPING].
[C) Amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of McAllen.]
>> MOTION SAME MOTION CARRIED.
THAT IS THE END OF THE [NOISE] PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW, I GO TO CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 2A [NOISE] THROUGH C. ANY ITEM YOU TAKEN OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[2. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> I THINK I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM ONE OF THE TAX REFUNDS.
>> I HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM ONE OF THE TAX REFUNDS.
>> THEN WE TAKE THAT OFF THAT ITEMS 2A AND B.
>> I HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT IT. [NOISE]
>> OKAY. LET'S DO A AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THAT ONES.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MOTION CARRIES B.
LOWERS, WHO'S GOT THAT? OKAY, MICHELLE.
[B) Consideration and possible action to approve an Interlocal Agreement with McAllen Independent School District related to the MISD Ag Fam Subdivision.]
>> WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY HAD THIS EGG FARM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS [OVERLAPPING] ALL AROUND THE CORNER.
>> THEY'RE BEING REQUIRED TO SUBDIVIDE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDING ONTO IT, AND SO THIS AGREEMENT WILL COVER THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE ESCORT UNDER THE SUBDIVISION.
INSTEAD OF THEM HAVING TO ESCORT IT UPFRONT, THEY WILL PAY FOR IT WHEN THE IMPROVEMENTS OCCURRED.
>> THEY'VE HAD IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS FOR A LONG TIME.
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PAYMENTS OR ANY OF THAT.
WE DID JUST WANT PERMISSION TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT BIGGER AND NICE.
>> RIGHT. THIS ACTUALLY LOCKS THEM INTO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR.
>> THERE ARE SOME CURRENT ONES THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO REIMBURSE TO UPON THE RECORDATION OF THE SUBDIVISION, AND THEN THE OTHER THREE WILL BE IN THE FUTURE WHEN THOSE PROJECTS OCCUR.
[NOISE] ONE OF THEM IS SCHEDULED TO BE WITHIN ABOUT 18 MONTHS THAT HAS BEEN TOLD TO THEM.
[00:30:05]
THE OTHER TWO DO NOT HAVE A DEFINITIVE TIMELINE RIGHT NOW.>> [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THAT.
>> YOU GAVE THEM RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO OF WHAT YOU WANTED, OKAY.
>> PERFECT. MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. WHO WOULD INEVITABLY IS GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SIDEWALK?
>> OH, WE WILL. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE.
>> WELL, NO. WE WILL BILL THEM FOR THEIR PORTION OF IT.
IF ANOTHER SUBDIVISION COMES IN ON EITHER SIDE OF THEM AND THEY PUT IN THEIR PIECES, THEN THERE'LL BE A GAP IN THERE.
SO WE WOULD HAVE IT LIKE AN ESCROW AND THEN WE WOULD GO IN AND FILL IN THAT GAP [NOISE] AND BUILD THEM FOR THAT PORTION OF IT AT THAT TIME.
>> THE AMOUNTS CALCULATOR WERE BASED ON?
>> ON OUR ENGINEERING ESTIMATES.
>> MOTION SECOND. ON FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. [INAUDIBLE] SIDE MOTION CARRIED.
ITEM C IS ATTACHED ONE. WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE?
>> NUMBER 4. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THE COMMISSIONERS ADD ABSTAIN FROM VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 4.
[C) Approval of Tax Refunds over $500.00.1. Ackerman, Ted Alan & Eloisa B.2. Cantu, Alonzo3. Galindo, Pedro & Maricela Rodriguez4. Water Tower Village LTD]
WE HAVE MOTION ON APPROVE.>> [INAUDIBLE] MOTION CARRIED WITHOUT YOUR VOTE FOR NUMBER 4.
[NOISE] 3A'S CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO NEGOTIATED CONTRACT FOR MICROTRANSIT SERVICES.
[3. BIDS/CONTRACTS]
[A) Consideration and Approval to Negotiate a Contract for Micro Transit Services.]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS.
THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE AND ORDER CONTRACT FROM MICROTRANSIT SERVICES TO RIDECO.
MICROTRANSIT IS A COMBINATION OF FIXED-ROUTE SERVICE AND ON-DEMAND SERVICE INTENDED TO BE A PRECURSOR TO FIX ROUTE OR TO ASSIST WITH POOR PERFORMING FIXED ROUTES.
THE FTA RECENTLY APPROVED A SOLE SOURCE PILOT PROJECT FOR MCALLEN TO PARTNER WITH RIDECO.
ALSO RECENTLY, THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT PROVIDED YOU WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE OPPORTUNITY VIA FRIDAY PACKET.
THE PERTINENT CONTRACT PARAMETERS ARE THAT IT MUST NOT EXCEED $188,000 FOR A 12-MONTH PERIOD WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND FOR SIX MONTHS AT THE SAME RATE PER MONTH.
THE OPERATING COSTS WILL BE COVERED WITH CARES ACT FUNDS AT 100 PERCENT.
I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> I HAVE ONE. IT IS FIX RATE.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, YOU COULD OPERATE AGAIN.
IF I CALL, THEY COME WITHIN A HALF-HOUR, TAKE ME ANY PLACE IN THE CITY OR WHERE?
>> NO. THE WAY MICROTRANSIT WORKS IS THEY SET UP ZONES.
FOR EXAMPLE, ROUTE 8 WAS A NORTHWESTERN ZONE IN MCALLEN GOING TO TRES LAGOS.
THE ZONE WILL BE CREATED IN THAT AREA AND SO THERE'LL BE VIRTUAL STOPS IN THAT AREA AND YOU CAN REQUEST SERVICE BASED ON THOSE STOPS.
NOW, IF YOU ORIGINATE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN ANOTHER ZONE, YOU CAN GET A FIXED ROUTE SERVICE THAT'LL CONNECT YOU TO THAT ZONE AND THEN YOU CAN GET YOUR ON-DEMAND TRIP IN THAT ZONE.
IT OPERATES ONLY IN THE ZONE WHERE YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE A FIXED ROUTE.
>> IF I'M GOING TO TRES LAGOS BUT I LIVE IN SOUTH MCALLEN, I TAKE?
>> YOU TAKE ROUTE ONE TO CENTRAL.
>> I GET OFF ROUTE ONE AND THEN I CALL THE UBER, I MEAN, WHATEVER YOU CALL IT.
>> MICRO, WHATEVER IT IS, AND THEN THEY TAKE ME TO WHERE I'M GOING?
>> RIGHT. YEAH, YOU WOULD CONNECT WITHIN THE FIXED ROUTE IN THAT ZONE AT CONNECTING STOPS.
>> IF I LIVE IN SOUTH MCALLEN AND I WANTED TO GO TO COMMISSIONER WHITAKER'S HOUSE, SO I CALL THAT AND THEY TAKE ME OVER THERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE LIVES. [LAUGHTER]
>> I ALSO LIVE IN SOUTH MCALLEN.
>> SHE LIVES ABOUT FIVE BLOCKS AWAY.
>> WELL, SO IF YOU LIVE IN THAT ZONE AND YOU WANT TO GO TO COMMISSIONER'S HOUSE, YOU WOULD REQUEST A RIDE WITHIN THAT ZONE, GO TO A CONNECTING STOP, AND THEN YOU GET ON THE FIXED ROUTE TO GO [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT HAS TO BE TO A DESIGNATED STOP.
>> RIGHT. IT WOULD BE THE WAY THAT YOUR TRANSIT SYSTEM WORKS WHERE YOU GET ON A PLACE OF ORIGIN ON THE ROUTE AND YOU TRANSFER TO A DIFFERENT ROUTE, SO YOU DO THAT.
>> BECAUSE MOVES YOU FROM A STOP IS HOW MANY? IS IT A QUARTER MILE? WAS THAT EIGHTH OF A MILE, RIGHT?
>> THEY DROP YOU OFF AT ANOTHER STOP, RIGHT? NOT WHEREVER YOU WANT.
>> THEY CONNECT YOU TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
>> THEY CONNECT YOU TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND THEY DROP YOU OFF AT VIRTUAL STOPS WITHIN THAT ZONE.
IF YOUR TRIP ORIGINATES IN THAT ZONE, YOU CAN GET DROPPED OFF AT ANY VIRTUAL STOP WITHIN THAT ZONE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS TO MICROTRANSIT IS, SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU SAW THE DATA BUT WE WERE OPERATING ROUTE 8, GOING TO TRES LAGOS.
WE HAD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE A DAY, SO IT'S A LINEAR ROUTE.
WITH THE VIRTUAL STOPS, YOUR SERVICE AREA PRETTY MUCH IS EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO WHERE THAT ROUTE RUNS.
THE VIRTUAL STOPS WILL THEN BE ABLE TO TELL YOU A BLUEPRINT OF WHERE A POTENTIAL FIXED ROUTE IS FOR THE FUTURE.
[00:35:02]
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IN PERPETUITY.YOU IMPLEMENT MICROTRANSIT TO EITHER START A FIXED ROUTE OR IF YOU HAVE AN UNDER-PERFORMING ROUTE, YOU IMPLEMENT MICROTRANSIT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE DEMAND FOR SERVICE IS AND THEN LATER YOU TRANSITION INTO A FIXED ROUTE.
>> THERE IS NO FEE FOR THAT MICRO-SERVICE?
>> THERE IS A FARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
>> YES, AND THEN THE FEE IS PROVIDED BY THE THIRD, SO WE WILL GET A FEE IMPOSED TO US BY THE THIRD PARTY.
>> THERE IS A FARE. I DIDN'T SEE A FARE IN THE MATERIAL I HAVE, SO WHAT'S THE FARE?
>> IT'S REGULAR, TYPICAL FARE THAT YOU WOULD CHARGE ON THE FIXED ROUTE, SO IT'S COMPARABLE.
>> IF YOU HAVE A FARE, WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO PAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET REIMBURSED BASICALLY WITH ALL THOSE WHO USE THE MINI TRANSIT AND THEN THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT EVEN?
>> NO, THE OPERATION IS 100 PERCENT SUBSIDIZED.
>> THE 188,000 THAT WE'VE SET A CAP ON FOR SERVICES, THAT'S COVERED AS PART OF OUR OPERATING COSTS.
THE FARES, WE WILL THEN USE IT TO OFFSET.
>> DO I GET TO TRANSFER THEN WHEN I GO ON THE BUS?
>> THIS IS BASICALLY, INSTEAD OF USING THE BIG BUS FOR US, BUT ONLY THREE PEOPLE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO TRES LAGOS.
IT'S LIKE A MINIVAN THAT'S GOING TO PICK UP FIVE PEOPLE AND BE MORE ECONOMICALLY.
>> IT'S GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO THAT LOCATION.
>> IT WOULDN'T STOP ON ITS WAY?
>> YOUR TRIP WOULD BE FROM WHATEVER STOP.
>> TO THE NEXT BUS STOP THAT YOU'RE GOING.
>> NO, NO, NO. IN THE MEANTIME, WE WOULD JUST STOP AT THE NEXT BUS STOP, AND IF ANYBODY IS THERE.
>> YEAH. IT'S ALSO INTENDED FOR MULTI TRIPS.
IF THERE'S ANOTHER TRIP ON THE WAY, THERE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL STOP, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A TRIP THAT BE LONGER THAN IT WOULD TAKE YOU ON A FIXED ROUTE TO GET FROM A TO B.
>> OKAY, JUST SO I CAN COMPREHEND HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.
LET'S SAY I LIVE IN ENCINO, SO I GRAB THE BUS ON 23RD IN [INAUDIBLE] , I JUMP IN.
I'M GOING TO GO SHOPPING TO DOWNTOWN, SO INSTEAD OF TAKING THE REGULAR ROUTE THAT WILL TAKE ME TO DOWNTOWN, I WILL JUST REQUEST A SERVICE AND THEY WOULD TAKE ME DIRECTLY TO DOWNTOWN. IS THAT WHAT IT IS?
>> YES, BUT THE ZONE IS IN NORTHWEST MCALLEN, SO IT'S NOT IN LINE.
>> OF COURSE, I'M NOT OKAY WITH IT.
>> I LIVE IN NORTHWEST MCALLEN, AND IF I WANTED TO GO FROM FOSSUM MIDDLE SCHOOL TO LET'S SAY DE LEON?
>> IF IT'S IN THAT ZONE, THEN YOU WOULD REQUEST A TRIP AND YOU GET PICKED UP AT A VIRTUAL STOP CLOSE BY AND THEN TAKE INTO THE DE LEON.
>> OKAY, AND HOW IS THE PERSON THAT NEEDS THE TRANSIT SERVICE? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO KNOW WHERE THEIR VIRTUAL STOP IS?
>> YES. IT'S TECHNOLOGY-BASED.
YOU HAVE AN APP AND THE APP WILL POPULATE ALL THE VIRTUAL STOPS ALONG THAT SERVICE AREA.
>> WHAT OTHER CITY DO YOU KNOW THAT'S USING THEM ALREADY?
>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN ON AND TAKE IT A CRUISE?
>> I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY, BUT I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS WITH THIS COMPANY IS THAT IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH YELLOW CAB AS THE ACTUAL OPERATOR.
YELLOW CAB HAS FOOTINGS HERE IN THE VALLEY, SO IT'D BE AN EASY PARTNERSHIP FOR THEM.
SO I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH [INAUDIBLE] WHO'S THE CLOSEST OPERATOR THAT HAS RIDECO AS A MICROTRANSIT AND IT'S WORKED REALLY WELL FOR THEM IN AREAS WHERE THEY HAD UNDER-PERFORMING SERVICE.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE FELT IS IN OUR BEST INTERESTS.
WE SUSPENDED ROUTE EIGHT BECAUSE OF COVID AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RELAUNCH IT WITH MORE EFFECTIVE SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN THEN DETERMINE A GOOD FIXED ROUTE FOR MOVING FORWARD.
>> WILL WE BE COLLECTING THE DATA? LET'S SAY MAYBE WHERE THERE'S CERTAIN VIRTUAL POINTS OR PICKUPS THAT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE LOOKING AT RE-INITIATING ROUTE EIGHT THAT WE CAN LOOK AT?
THE DATA THAT WE COLLECT THROUGH THIS SERVICE IS GOING TO TELL US WHERE THE DEMAND IN THAT SERVICE AREA IS SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A ROUTE.
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY LOOKED AT WAYS TO MAKE THIS ROUTE MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR TRANSIT STUDY AND WE CALL FOR DIFFERENT MODIFYING THE ROUTES IN SEVERAL WAYS, BUT ALL OF THOSE ARE CONTINGENT TO THE NORTH HUB BEING BUILT.
THE NORTH HUB IS AT LEAST 12 MONTHS AWAY, SO THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT FIXED-ROUTE COULD LOOK LIKE ONCE WE BUILD THAT HUB.
AGAIN, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM NOT TO EXCEED THE CERTAIN AMOUNT.
WE COULD POTENTIALLY EXTEND FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT THAT'LL BE THE END OF IT.
AFTER THAT, IF WE WANTED TO CONTINUE IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A FORMAL RFP PROCUREMENT.
>> YOUR CONTRACT IS A 12-MONTH CONTRACT?
[00:40:04]
>> WELL, IT'S UP TO THE AMOUNT, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT. TWELVE MONTH WITH A CAPITAL OF 188,000 AND THAT'S BASED ON OUR CALCULATIONS OF WHAT IT WOULD COST US TO RUN THAT SERVICE.
>> OKAY. NOW, IN THE JUNE MEETING, I WANT YOU TO PRESENT TO US HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT BUS.
[LAUGHTER] YOU CAN DO THAT IN THE JUNE MEETING THOUGH.
>> THAT CAN BE PRETTY CONFUSING.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S AN APP, RIGHT?
>> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND LIKE A RIDE SERVICE?
>> YEAH, BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] ONE OF THOSE SERVICES YOU CAN PUT LIKE SEVERAL STOPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, THIS IS BASICALLY A COMBINATION OF A FIXED ROUTE AND UBER AT A MORE AFFORDABLE RATE.
NOW, GRANTED, YOU CAN HAVE MULTIPLE TRIPS IN ONE, SO YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WITH YOU ON THAT TRIP IF IT'S EFFICIENT TO RUN IT THAT WAY AND THAT'S GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY THE SYSTEM, THE BACK-END SYSTEM.
>> YOU NEED TWO PEOPLE, THEY BOTH PAY A FARE?
>> YES. BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT [BACKGROUND] THE FARE THAT YOU WOULD PAY NORMALLY.
>> YEAH, IT'S JUST LIKE A BUS TRIP?
>> IT JUST DOESN'T DROP YOU OFF EXACTLY AT THE LOCATION, JUST [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, IT DROPS YOU OFF AT THE VIRTUAL STOPS.
I MEAN WERE GOING TO HAVE AS MANY VIRTUAL STOPS AS POSSIBLE.
>> I THINK HONESTLY [INAUDIBLE] TAKE THAT RIDE.
>> YES, THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE FROM HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO GO SOMEPLACE AND THEN LEAVE YOU ALL THERE AND NOT COMING BACK.
>> IF YOU TAKE ROUTE 4 FROM HERE, YOU CAN TRANSFER TO THAT ZONE AND THEN GO ANYWHERE IN THAT ZONE THAT YOU WANT.
>> WELL, WE'LL GO WITH YOU SO WE DON'T GET LOST?
>> OKAY. MOTION SECOND TO APPROVE WHATEVER YOU SAID.
[LAUGHTER]. ALL APPROVED, SAY AYE.
>> ALL SAME TIME, MOTION CARRIES.
>> THANK YOU, THEN OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO REPORT HOW THIS IS GOING. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS A CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO UTILIZE PARKLAND ZONE ONE FONT FOR THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
>> ARE YOU THE NEW INTER PARKS DIRECTOR?
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.
>> RELAX, IT'S YOUR FIRST PRESENTATION?
>> THE FIRST PRESENTATION IS A BIG ONE. IT'S A HUGE ONE.
>> YOU JUST WANT TO COME BACK IN JUNE? [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH. THE CITY OF MCCULLOCH AND HIDALGO COUNTY IS LOOKING TO
[B) Consideration and Approval to utilize Parkland Zone 1 Fund for Inclusive Playground subject to budget reclass.]
BRING IN AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND TO THE SOUTH OF MCCULLOCH.WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO MATCH HIDALGO COUNTY.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE FUNDED $100,000 THROUGH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
HIDALGO COUNTY IS GOING TO BE AT 250,000.
SO WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 150,000 FROM APARTMENT ZONE 1.
>> CAN WE ASK, ARE YOU IN SOUTH MCCULLOCH?
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT AIRPORT PARK, LOS ENCINOS OR MAYBE EVEN PALMVIEW, BUT WE'LL TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> I HELPED GUARANTEE THE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY.
THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO DISTRICT 4. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S WHY HE TOLD ME WE WOULD GET MONEY TOO.
>> I WENT OUT OF MY WAY TO TALK TO COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE]
>> YEAH. THAT WAS A BUDGET ITEM THAT YOU DISCUSSED.
>> YEAH. SO WE CAN GET THE COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY TO HELP US WITH THE DISTRICT 4 INCLUSIVE PARK.
THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.
>> WE'RE JUST AUTHORIZING THE AMOUNT, WE DIDN'T DECIDE THE LOCATION YET?
>> NO, ACTUALLY, WE DID DECIDE THE LOCATION DURING BUDGETING AT THAT POINT, IT WAS GOING TO BE THE PALMVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTING WITH THE OPTION OF MAKING AN [OVERLAPPING] AIRPORT PARK BUT IT IS GOING TO STAY IN THE SUPPORT.
>> YEAH, WHEN WE DISCUSSED IN THE BUDGET, WE DID TALK ABOUT SOUTH MCCULLOCH, SPECIFICALLY PALMVIEW.
HOWEVER, SINCE THEN WE THINK THAT AIRPORT'S GOT A LOT MORE SPACE.
>> IT'S MORE AMENABLE TO THIS KIND OF PARK.
SO TODAY ALL YOU'RE DOING IS HOPEFULLY IMPROVING, INCREASING THE BUDGET SO WE CAN MATCH THE COUNTY.
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE TO INCREASE IT TO MATCH THE ACCOUNT.
>> IN A MOTION TO SECOND TO APPROVE THE ALLOCATION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> THEN I LIKE TO ADD DISTRICT 6 AFTER.
>> WE WILL WORK OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO. JUST BECAUSE I DID GO OUT OF MY WAY TO GET THIS FROM COUNTY.
I HOPE EVERYBODY RESPECTS THAT.
>> BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF AIRPORT PARK, I UNDERSTAND [OVERLAPPING] THAT FEDERAL FUNDS OR GRANTS CAN'T BE USED TO MAKING DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT'S UNDERNEATH THE APPROACH, RIGHT?.
SO, I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT EVERY ENTITY IS GOING TO BE USING FUNDS THAT ARE NOT LINKED TO SOME PARTS OF FEDERAL?
>> OKAY. WE ALREADY VOTED? [OVERLAPPING] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> 4A IS PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT OF CITIES' SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE,
[4. ORDINANCES]
[A) Providing for an amendment to City’s Subdivision Ordinance providing for a waiver to platting requirements in specific instances.]
PROVIDING FOR A WAIVER TO PLANNING REQUIREMENTS.>> ALL RIGHT. AS DISCUSSED BEFORE, STATE LAW DOES REQUIRE THAT ALL PROPERTIES BE PROPERLY RECORDED AND PLATTED.
[00:45:03]
SO CURRENTLY, OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES DOES HAVE THE OPTION FOR A WAIVER TO SUBDIVISIONS.YOU'VE SEEN A BUNCH OF THEM, [BACKGROUND] BUT THESE CAN ONLY BE APPROVED BY CITY COMMISSIONS.
WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES IS IT WOULD ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF VARIANCES, TO PROPERTIES THAT ALREADY HAVE ALL REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARE WILLING TO DEDICATE ANY REQUIRED RIGHT OF WAY.
THESE ARE PROPERTIES THAT STAFF NORMALLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS WELL.
>> ISN'T THIS MOSTLY TO INITIATE A NEW FEE OR IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING?
>> THE FEE IS SEPARATE BUT THEY'RE TOGETHER.
>> WE WILL IN A MINUTE. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WILL GO WITH THIS ON THAT.
>> THE ONLY ONES THAT WILL COME TO COMMISSIONERS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE OPPOSITION TO HIM, CORRECT?.
>> NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSITION BECAUSE WE DON'T ADVERTISE, BUT THOSE THAT STAFF WOULDN'T RECOMMEND APPROVAL. YEAH.
>> SO SPECIFICALLY PROBABLY ONES THAT DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE [INAUDIBLE].
>> OKAY. THE MOTION IS SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION, HEARING NO ONE, IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ALL SAME SIDE, MOTION CARRIED.
B THIS IS GOING TO COST YOU 250 BUCKS.
>> SO THIS IS THE SISTER ORDINANCE TO THIS ONE.
MOST OF OUR APPLICATIONS HAVE FEES ASSOCIATED,
[B) Providing for an amendment to the Planning Department's fee schedule to include an additional fee for variance applications under the City's Subdivision Ordinance.]
THERE'S STAFF TIME, THERE'S ADVERTISEMENT, ETC.HOWEVER, VARIANT SYSTEMS SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS DO NOT HAVE ANY FEES RIGHT NOW AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS STAFF TIME INVOLVED.
SO, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD PUT A FEE OF $250 TO VARIANCES UNDER THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE.
IT DOES COME WITH ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION HAS LOTS OF STAFF.
>> SO MOTION SECOND. YOU ASK A QUESTION?
>> I JUST BUY COMMENT OR QUESTION.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALREADY.
WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGING FOR IT, OR IS THIS SOMETHING NEW?
>> WE HAVE BEEN DOING VARIANCES.
WE DON'T CHARGE FOR VARIANCES UNDER THE SUBDIVISION, CORRECT. SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE.
>>SO IT TAKES MONEY TO VERIFY TODS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> SO OUR DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE OTHER FEES INVOLVED.
YOUR REZONE NEEDS, YOUR VARIANCE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, THE CART BOARDS, ETC., BUT THESE SPECIFIC ONES HAVE NOT HAD AND IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST CITY COMMISSION, WE HAD ABOUT SIX OF THEM.
THAT IS QUITE A BIT OF STAFF TIME INVOLVED.
>> YOU SAVE THE ENGINEERING COMING BEFORE US AND ALL THE REST OF THE STUFF THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO TO GET A VARIANCE.
>> WAIT, DON'T YOU THINK AT 250 FOR A FEE THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD IS A LITTLE TOO MUCH?
>> IT'S IN LINE WITH THE OTHER FEES THAT WE HAVE.
>> I'M JUST SAYING, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO GO, "OH, NOW I GOT TO PAY $250? I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING BEFORE." [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S IN LIGHT. THE REZONING IS $500.
>> IT'S SAVING THEM 3,000 BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE THE MINIMUM ENGINEERING FEE OF [INAUDIBLE]. IT'S SAVING A LOT OF MONEY.
>> WELL, IS THIS MOTION IS SECOND?
>> MOVE FOR DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ALL SAME SIDE, MOTION CARRIES.
>> 5A'S CONSIDERATION OF VARIANCE REQUEST TO THE SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENTS AT 2500 SOUTH MCCULLOCH.
SO JUST THE CLOSET NUMBER 4 SUBDIVISION IS LOCATED SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MCCULLOCH, YUMA.
[5. VARIANCES]
IT IS ZONE C30,[A) Consideration of a Variance Request to the subdivision improvements required at the proposed Just a Closet #4 Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas; 2500 South McColl Road.]
WHICH IS LIKE COMMERCIAL, AND IT IS BEING PROPOSED AS A SELF STORAGE FACILITY.THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY VACANT, BUT IT'S SURROUNDED BY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, APARTMENTS, AND VACANT LAND.
AS PART OF THE SUBDIVISION PROCESS, JUST CLAUSE NUMBER FOUR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHARE OF IMPROVEMENTS, PAVING, AND DRAINAGE RATHER, ON MCCULLOCH, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-ONE FEET.
OUR THOROUGHFARE PLAN DOES DESIGNATE THAT SECTION OF MCCULLOCH AS A MINOR ARTERIAL, WHICH REQUIRES 65 FEET [NOISE] PAVEMENT, CURB TO CURB.
THE PROJECT ENGINEER IS REQUESTING A WAIVER TO THESE REQUIREMENTS AS THEY BELIEVE THAT MCCULLOCH WAS ALREADY FULLY BUILT OUT OF 52 AND WIDENING DOES NOT FEASIBLE.
WE DO WANT TO INFORM THE COMMISSION THAT THE HEIGHTS OF MCCULLOCH, WHICH IS JUST ACROSS THE STREET OFF MCCULLOCH, DID ESCROW FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS BEFORE YOU STAFFERS RECOMMENDING OPTION THREE, WHICH IS DISAPPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION?
>> OKAY. THE MOTION IS TO REQUIRE THE DEDICATION IN ESCROW. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CORRECT. TO [INAUDIBLE] ESCROW OR THE BUILDING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> SO THEY'D HAD IT DEDICATED ANYWAY.
SO THIS IS JUST THE YES, RIGHT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> CORRECT, AND THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.
>> [NOISE] OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> POST SAME TIME, MOTION CARRIED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEVELOPER'S HERE OR NOT? WE SHOULD GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
WELL, YOU CAN COME UP AND WE CAN ACTUALLY RECONSIDER OUR MOTION IF YOU ARE VERY CONVINCING.
I UNDERSTAND. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR ARGUMENT.
ABSOLUTELY. IT'S ALREADY THERE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
YOU ALL GOT TO SEE I'M WITH REAL DELTA ENGINEERING, JUST REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER.
YES, WE WERE JUST ASKING FOR THESE VARIANCE, JUST SOME CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BUILT WITH CURB AND GUTTER
[00:50:01]
SIDEWALKS AND EVERYTHING AND WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING THE SIDEWALK ON THE WEST SIDE, ON OUR SIDE AND IT WAS JUST BECAUSE OF THAT, WE SEE THE IRRIGATION CANAL AND THAT'S OUTSIDE AS A LIMITATION, AND IT WAS MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THAT.>> YEAH. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY BETWEEN THERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF LOTS THERE.
SO YOU COULD HAVE A POSSIBILITY TO WIDEN IT SOMEDAY AS OPPOSED TO NEVER BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN [NOISE] FULLY DEVELOPED NORTH OF THERE, ESPECIALLY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO ADD, MAYOR THAT IF IT EVER DOES GET WIDENED, IT WILL GET WIDENED AFTER JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
>> AFTER JUNE OF THIS YEAR, THAT IS RIGHT. [LAUGHTER]
>> MANAGER REPORT, ITEM NUMBER 6A IS THE SCHNEIDER PROJECT UPDATE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSION.
[6. MANAGER’S REPORT]
AT THE MARCH 22 CITY COMMISSION MEETING,[A) Schneider Project Update.]
STAFF WAS AUTHORIZED TO PROCEED WITH A SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE CONTRACT, BUT AT THAT MEETING, THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED AND THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE THE STAFF IS SEEKING, AND WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT SOME ANSWERS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM SCHNEIDER AND MAKE AN ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION.SO, I ASKED A SCHNEIDER REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE AAP PROGRAM WAS STILL AVAILABLE AND THEY SAID DEPENDING ON THE TIMING THAT IT COULD STILL BE AVAILABLE AND COULD BE USED.
THEY ALSO CLARIFIED THE SCOPE OF SERVICES ON THE CONTRACT SCHEDULE.
[NOISE] THERE WAS A QUESTION RAISED AS TO HOW MUCH OF THAT CONTRACT AMOUNT WAS BEING PAID TO SNYDER VERSUS THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES? [NOISE] THERE IS A CHART IN THE PACKET BEFORE YOU AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN WITH THEIR FEES.
I'LL GO OVER THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO ASKED SCHNEIDER TO PRESENT AN OPTION WHERE THEY WOULD REMOVE THE LIGHTING COMPONENT FROM THE CONTRACT SO THAT WE COULD REVIEW THE COSTS WITH THE OTHER TWO ITEMS MINUS THE LIGHTING COMPONENTS.
THAT'S BEFORE YOU IN THE PACKET AS WELL AND SO I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY JUST GO OVER THOSE.
ALSO, TO UPDATE THE COST TO REFLECT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAD ALREADY COMPLETED HERE AT CITY HALL AND THEN REVISE THEM BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SOME TIME THAT PASS.
SO IN THE PACKET, THE CHART THAT IS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU HAS THREE COLUMNS.
THE FIRST COLUMN SAYS PROJECT PRICE [NOISE] AND THAT IS THE UPDATED PROJECT COST.
THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST IS APPROXIMATELY $8.98 MILLION, FOR WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE HARD COSTS, WHICH IS CONSTRUCTION.
THE ITEMIZED OR SOFT COSTS AT APPROXIMATELY $1.16 MILLION, FOR TOTAL PROJECT COSTS OF 10.14 MILLION.
THE NEXT COLUMN ELIMINATES THE LIGHTING COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT AND REDUCES THE PROJECT COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION TO APPROXIMATELY $4.85 MILLION WITH THEIR SOFT COSTS OF $883,000 FOR A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF $5.74 MILLION.
BASED ON THESE UPDATED COST AND ELIMINATING THE COSTS WITH THE LIGHTING, WE FIND THAT TO BE A MORE FAVORABLE PROJECT TO PROCEED WITHOUT THE LIGHTING COMPONENTS.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THOSE COSTS INVOLVED, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING DISAPPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT AND ALTERNATIVELY WOULD LIKE TO SEEK WAYS TO BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT WITHOUT THE SNYDER COMPONENTS, SO THAT WOULD BE A SAVINGS OF THAT $883,000 THAT THEY HAD OUTLINED FOR THEIR SOFT COSTS.
AS A BRIEF COMPARISON BECAUSE YOU ALSO ASK, WHAT DO OUR COSTS LOOK VERSUS SNYDER.
JUST A BRIEF SNAPSHOT FOR THE BOILER, CHILLER PROJECT, WE PAID APPROXIMATELY $12,000 FOR DESIGN AND 205,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION, SO $217,000 FOR THAT PROJECT.
USING THE NUMBERS THAT SNYDER HAS HERE AND USING A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR COSTS BASED ON WHAT THEY SUBMITTED, WE'D BE LOOKING AT THE HARD COSTS WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED FOR THE BOILER AND CHILLER OF 225,000, ESTIMATING WHAT THEIR FEES WOULD BE, THEY'D BE AT APPROXIMATELY 254,000.
WE CAN DO IT FOR A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN SNYDER CAN DO IT, SAVINGS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, ROUGHLY $37,000.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHO WE SEND THERE.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, TO DISAPPROVE THE CONTRACT AND GO OUT WHETHER IT BE IN A COUPLE OF FISCAL YEARS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, APPROXIMATELY $4.8 MILLION IS WHAT THEY'RE ESTIMATING.
>> LET ME JUST ADD THIS, THE ESTIMATE NOW IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS, IT'S BEEN REDUCED BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT.
THEN SECONDLY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW MY NOTE, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO AT LEAST CONSIDER USING STIMULUS MONEY TOWARDS THIS PROJECT,
[00:55:03]
WHETHER IT'S IN A ONE FISCAL YEAR OR TWO, AND NOT PAY INTERESTS AND NOT PAY SOFT COSTS AND SO ON.[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE RECOMMENDING THIS [OVERLAPPING]
>> INCOMING DUE IS 50 PERCENT FROM THE LAST TIME THEY APPROVED IT BASED ON WITH NO LIGHTING NOW?
>> CORRECT, WITH THE REDUCTION IN SCOPE OF WORK.
>> OKAY, SO THEY REDUCED 50 PERCENT [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE REQUESTED THAT THEY ELIMINATE THE LIGHTING.
>> OBVIOUSLY WE SUBTRACTED PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
WE'RE AT $4.7 MILLION INSTEAD OF ALMOST 10 1/2, AND SO THAT'S MUCH MORE FEASIBLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO.
BUT FOR ME SPECIFICALLY AS YOUR MANAGER, I THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER MONEY THAT WE WILL HAVE CASH IN HAND AND NOT PAY ANY OF THESE COSTS AND STILL DO THE IMPROVEMENTS.
>> WE WOULD DO WITH THE IMPROVEMENT ON OUR OWN.
>> THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS, YES, MA'AM.
>> BECAUSE THEY WANT 37,000 MORE?
>> WELL, NO. THAT 37 WAS JUST AN ESTIMATE FOR ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT, [OVERLAPPING] IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE. IT WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS MR. CITY MANAGER, WOULD WE BE IN A POSITION GIVEN THE STIMULUS MONEY WHERE WE COULD DO ALL THOSE PROJECTS ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND LET THEM OUT? BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ADVANTAGE OF DOING UNDER SNYDER, THAT THEY WOULD DO IT ALL WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME.
>> SURE. I THINK [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THAT AT WORST, WE MIGHT DO THAT IN TWO FISCAL YEARS.
BUT I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT WE CAN DO IT IN ONE YEAR.
>> ALL RIGHT, I LIKE THAT CONFIDENCE.
>> I THINK THAT CONCERN WAS MORE BEING ABLE TO FUND IT.
>> I THINK THE OTHER THING IS, YOU'RE REPLACING SOME THAT STILL HAS WARRANTY AND USEFUL LIFE.
THE QUESTION IS, IF IT HAD A TWO OR THREE YEARS LEFT AS USEFUL LIFE FOR WARRANTY ON IT, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN DOING IT NOW AND WHAT'S THE ENERGY SAVINGS AS OPPOSED TO REPLACING SOMETHING THAT'S STILL HAS A WARRANTY OR USEFUL LIFE ON IT? I THINK THE STAFF AND ROY COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF ANALYZING THAT.
IF YOU WENT OUT FOR ANOTHER YEAR BECAUSE YOU HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT'S STILL WORKING BUT NOT AS EFFICIENT, BUT IT STILL SAVE YOU THAT MONEY, THEN THEY CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING EVERYTHING'S GOING TO REPLACE IN ONE YEAR.
>> IF YOU CAN DO IT FINE, BUT I THINK THAT ANALYSIS IS OUT OF HAND.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT MAYOR.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH OUR MESSAGE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROJECT TO TODAY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CASH TO DO IT AND WE BELIEVE WE NOW DO, SO I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER.
>> BUT THIS WOULD BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> I GUESS WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF IN OUR MIND THAT WE WANT TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> A ONE TIME CAPITAL COSTS, RIGHT? BUT THE MAINTENANCE IS STILL GOING TO BE THERE ANYWAY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING IT.
>> RIGHT, SURE. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAVINGS OF IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO FOR US, WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND EXTRA MONEY [OVERLAPPING] AS THEY DID WITH THE LIGHTING.
>> TO FOLLOW THE [OVERLAPPING] RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU DO IT.
>> RIGHT. TO DISAPPROVE THE CONTRACT AND TO USE STIMULUS MONEY SPECIFICALLY.
>> I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU VOTE ON THAT RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT WE NOT GO WITH THE CONTRACT AND YOU EVALUATE THAT FINANCIAL POSITION [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO US AND FORM OUR BIDS FOR THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOW, DO THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID WITH US AT ALL?
>> THEY DON'T DO THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> YES, MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HOW FAST CAN WE DO IT OURSELVES?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE JUST TALKED [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THAT IF WE'D HAVE THE DISCUSSION ON THE FUNDING, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE HAVE FUNDING. WE KNOW WE HAVE FUNDING, WE KNOW IT'S COMING, WE KNOW ALL THAT STUFF.
>> RIGHT, BUT YOU ALL JUST HAVE TO GIVE ME THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT.
>> WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON FRIDAY, SO HOLD IT.
>> THEY CAN START DOING THAT PROCESS?
>> NOW IT'S BEEN ON HOLD BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO USE SNYDER ON THAT, SO THE MOTION IS SECOND, RIGHT? [INAUDIBLE]. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] , MOTION CARRIED.
>> B IS CHECKS IN THE MAIL, SO WE SHOULD HAVE IT BY NEXT FRIDAY.
[B) Report on CARES Act Funding.]
[LAUGHTER]>> FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, ALL THESE ARE PAST JUNE, SO QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T CARE.
[C) Future Agenda Items.]
[LAUGHTER] ANY OTHER FUTURE, WE HAVE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.>> IF YOU WANT ONE, WE CAN GET ROBERT TO GET ONE SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT BEFORE IN A MEMO FORM, IF THAT'S OKAY ROY, SO WE CAN ASK HIM TO DO THAT.
THEN YOU CAN DECIDE WHETHER YOU NEEDED THAT OR NOT FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING. ANIMAL CONTROL.
>> ANIMAL CONTROL, WE NEED IT, EVEN BEFORE JIM.
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU WANT TO DO AFTER DOING IT,
[01:00:01]
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD THINK, AND THE STIMULUS.>> I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO NOTE THAT MY NAME IS NOT ON HERE.
>> [LAUGHTER] FIRST TIME WITH THAT EITHER [INAUDIBLE].
>> I TOOK CARE OF MY STUFF THREE YEARS AGO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK TREES DOWNTOWN, THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED MOVING ON THE TREES DOWNTOWN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YEAH, BUT IT SAYS COMMISSIONER MAYS, I THINK IT'S SEBY'S.
>> OKAY, WE'LL PUT IT ON SEBY.
>> WHAT ARE WE DOING IF WE DON'T NEED IT?
>> I DON'T NEED TO TRANSFER STUFF. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'RE RELOCATING MOST OF THOSE [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE CAN.
SOME OF THOSE TREES WERE RELOCATED TO THE PARK THERE ON [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT ONE, NO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE AGREED TO, THERE'S OTHER PLACES YOU SAID?
>> WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT, HAVE WE?
>> NO, BECAUSE REMEMBER WE WERE GOING TO GET THE UPDATE OF WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO START PULLING THEM IN. THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW.
>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, IT'S GOING TO BE UP TILL JUNE.
>> YEAH, WE KNOW THERE'S [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] SIDEWALK, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO START [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL RIGHT. I THINK RENAMING [INAUDIBLE] TO YOU EVERYBODY, I'LL JUST PUT YOUR SUGGESTIONS IN AND FURNISH THEM TO THE SAME MANAGERS CAN HAVE A LIST, WHY WE JUST DO IT THAT WAY/
>> WELL, WHAT I HAD SUGGESTED TO ROY.
WELL, WE'RE BOUNCING OFF THE IDEA WAS WE CAN MAKE IT PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, SO IT COULD BE PALM CROSSING COMMUNITY CENTER, PALM CROSSING'S GOLF COURSE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CONFUSING.
>> OKAY, EVERYBODY JUST DO A LIST AND WE'LL TURN IN THE LIST AND WE'LL PICK OUT THE BEST NAME FOR THIS.
>> BUT I WANTED TO DO SOUTH MCALLEN COMMUNITY CENTER, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW IT'S IN SOUTH MCALLEN BUT IT'S PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE CONVENTION CENTER WHERE WE CAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF YOU CALL THAT MCALLEN GOLF COURSE, IT WOULD GET CONFUSED WITH A COUNTRY CLUB, RIGHT?
>> EVERYBODY, GO LISTEN. THINK ABOUT IT.
[OVERLAPPING], SO ANY OTHER NEW ITEMS?
>> WE TRY TO KNOCK OFF ALL THE ONES THAT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE'RE NOT DOING VERY WELL.
>> I KNOW. OKAY, NO NEW ITEMS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL ROTATION IS GOING TO BE A ROTATION SCHEDULE FOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, SO INSTEAD US JUST HAVING THE SAME OFFICERS GOING TO THE SAME AREAS, THEY CAN ROTATE WITHIN THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE LIKE "WE GET THE SAME PERSON EVERY SINGLE TIME." AND THEY'RE LIKE, THEY ARE FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING AND THEY'LL DO TWO TO ONE.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT ANYBODY, BUT I THINK IF WE CAN IMPLEMENT ROTATION WHERE WE HAVE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT GOING TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BASIS, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP US IN TRYING TO GET TO EVERYBODY AND BE MORE EQUAL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] PROCESS, PUT IT ON THE AGENDA THERE.
>> I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT, BUT I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
PUT THAT ON AGENDA [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S IT [INAUDIBLE] FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. THE MANAGE REPORT [INAUDIBLE] I DON'T HAVE ANY REPORT ON COVID,
[7. MAYOR’S REPORT]
[A) Report on COVID Matters.]
[INAUDIBLE] GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE, IT'S GREAT.LEGISLATIVE REPORT [INAUDIBLE] EXCEPT THEY'RE A FINE GENTLEMEN, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
WE'LL WAIT FOR THE FINAL VERSION OF WHATEVER HAPPENS.
[B) Report on Legislative Matters]
>> THIRD TIME AROUND. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ITEM 8A QUALIFIES FOR DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO
[8. EXECUTIVE SESSION, CHAPTER 551, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071 (CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY), SECTION 551.072 (DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY), SECTION 551.074 (PERSONNEL MATTERS) AND SECTION 551.087 (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT).]
THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551087 IS WELL UNDER THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.I RECOMMEND YOUR RETURN MOTION.
>> I STAND CORRECTED, REFINED GENTLEMAN AND LADIES.
A MOTION OF GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> [OVERLAPPING] MOTION TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AT 6:20 WE'LL BE IN RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL BE BACK A LITTLE BIT LATER.
[01:19:25]
[01:19:26]
IT IS 6:35, MR. CITY ATTORNEY.[01:19:30]
>> I RECOMMEND YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
[A) Consultation with City Attorney regarding Economic Development Matters. (Section 551.087, T.G.C.)]
DESCRIBED BY THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY AND AUTHORIZE THEM TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT FOR THE SAME WITH RESPECT TO ITEM 1A.[NOISE] [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE]
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE SECOND.
>> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE]
>> MAYOR, WITH RESPECT TO ITEM A2,
[01:20:04]
I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION AUTHORIZING A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE GRANT DESCRIBED SUBJECT TO MANAGEMENT'S PRIORITIES OF GRANT APPLICATIONS.>> [FOREIGN] [OVERLAPPING] WE CAN MOTION SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> I'D LIKE TO REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER ON ITEM ONE, WE SHOULD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE UTRGB.
>> DID NOT VOTE AND DID NOT DISCUSS.
>> THAT'S THE END OF THE MEETING.
[NOISE] WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
>> REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.