City Commission - Regular Meeting

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and may we call the meeting to order. Thank you. Thank you. Uh good evening uh and welcome to the city commission uh meeting um in pursuant to chapter 551 title 5 uh of the Texas government code that the Texas Open Meetings Act notice is hereby given that the city commission of the city of Brownsville, Texas in accordance with article 5 section 12 of the charter of of said city will convene at a regular meeting on January 20th, 2026 at I'm excuse me um I'm at 5:00 pm here here in the city commission chambers on the second floor of the Brownsville City Old Federal Building located at 10001 East Elizabeth Street, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas 78520. We will proceed with the roll call starting with Mayor John Cowan Jr.

present. Commissioner Pedro Cardinas present. Commissioner Austavo Deleon, Commissioner Ninth Galonski, Commissioner Theo Varel, present. Commissioner Linda Marias, Commissioner Brian Martinez, present. We do have a quorum to proceed. We will have the invocation that will be led by Pastor Brad Burks. And following we will have the pledge of allegiance uh to the flags of the United States of America and the state of Texas.

Please stand for the prayer and please remain standing afterwards for the pledge of the flags. Father God, we thank you so much first of all for your love, your grace, and your mercy. We thank you that you have a a good perfect plan for each one of us. And Lord, I ask you to draw each one of us into obedience to you and a relationship with you. so that we can receive the direction that you so much wants to give us both individually and as a city, Lord God. And Lord God, we specifically ask you to lead our mayor, lead and guide our mayor and city commissioners, all of our department heads and everyone that presents anything today for the very best for the city of Brownsville. And Lord, we ask all of these things in the name of your precious son, Jesus Christ. Amen. And L, we now we have a short moment of silence. because I never can cover every issue that is of concern to your heart. So, take a moment to add your prayers to what I just prayed.

Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for its one nation of Texas.

Next we have the proclamations which is recognizing the 100th anniversary of Texas Southmost College. What an exciting year for our community to be celebrating the centennial with our Texas Southmost College. Can you all come up here? This commission has the honor of recognizing this Texas Southmost College today with a proclamation of the city commission of Brownsville, Texas, celebrating Texas Southmost College's 100th anniversary. Whereas on August 9th, 1926, the first institution of higher education in the entire Rio Grand Valley was established, the junior college of the lower Rio Grand Valley with 84 students attending the first classes held on September 21st, 1926. And whereas on January 1st, 1930, the college became the first accredited community college in the great state of Texas by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. And whereas the college was renamed Brownsville Junior College in 1931 and finally Texas Southmost College in 1949. And whereas Texas Southmost College moved from the Brownsville Independent School District's facilities to its current location at the site of historic Fort Brown in 1948. And whereas for a century Texas Southmost College has been a beacon of opportunity providing affordable and accessible higher education to generations of students. And whereas Texas Southmost College is driven to be a nationally leading community and student centered institution that transforms lives and uplifts families. And whereas Texas Southmost College mission is to empower students, families, and industry through practical, affordable, highquality education that drives personal success and elevates regional economic growth. And whereas the college continues to foster a strong collegegoing culture by serving the entire family, beginning with the Littlest Scorpions at the college at the campus early childhood center through youth summer camps, growing high school dual credit

programs, traditional academic degrees, and transfer credits, work force workforce training programs, customized corporate training, leisure learning, and continuing education. And whereas Texas most college has grown its dual enrollment programs to include 43 public, private, and charter school partners through which high school students can earn academic as well as career and technical education credits at no cost to their families, even earning an associates degree before they graduate from high school. And whereas the college connects community members with high wage, high demand careers through a diverse range of educational pathways that include national industry credentials, institutional awards, certificates, associates degrees, and bachelor degrees. And whereas student success measured at Texas Almost College are as strong as ever with the student graduation rate continuing to surpass the state average. And whereas the board of trustees has reduced tuition and fees twice since 2017, making Texas Southmost College the most affordable institution of higher education in the entire Rio Grand Valley and lowered the tax rate for the past four consecutive years, providing financial relief for local homeowners. And whereas Texas Southmost College has played an instrument instrumental role in strengthening Brownsville's economic ecosystem by becoming the destination for highquality education and workforce training in the lower Rio Grand Valley. And whereas the board of trustees, faculty, staff, and administration of Texas Southmost College are committed to the college values of service, integrity, innovation, excellence, community, and accountability. And whereas each member of the Brownsville City Commission believes it is appropriate to celebrate the historic milestone of 100 years of history, education, and service. Now, therefore, it may be resolved this the 20th day of January, 2026, that the city of Browns will hereby recognize this, the 100th anniversary of Texas Southmost College, done on this the 20th day of

January, 2026, signed by the mayor and city commission. And please join us in a few words if you may at the podium. Thank you so much for this. We're very happy and excited that we made it to 100. It's a great honor to be here. I know that the college is successful because of people like you that push the college forward. I appreciate this gesture and I

hope we can continue. I know we won't make the next hundred, but the next 10 I'm hoping we will. Thank you so much for your kindness. Uh, next, the second proclamation is recognizing the the 175th anniversary of the Rio Grand Lodge number 81 AF and AM. Okay. A proclamation of the city commission of Brownsville, Texas,

recognizing the 175th anniversary of the Rio Granded Lodge number 81 AF and AM. Whereas Rio Grande Lodge number 81 AF and AM is part of the largest and oldest fraternity in the world called Freemasonry. And whereas the Rio Grande Lodge number 81 AF and AM petitioned for a charter from the Grand Lodge of Texas AF and AAM in 1848 and was finally incorporated on January 23rd, 1851. And whereas the Rio Grand Lodge number 81 AF and AM is the mother lodge of South Texas. And whereas the Rio Grande Lodge number 81 AF and AM has coordinated various educational, medical, scientific, literacy and charitable community projects which has in the best and broadest sense enhanced the way of life. And whereas the Rio Grande lodge number 81 AF and AM strongly believes that the social and moral virtues that they follow can bring societies together for a brighter future. And therefore, be it resolved, Rio Grande Lodge number 81 AF and AM celebrates on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 its 175th year anniversary. Now therefore, we members of the city commission of the city of Brownsville, Texas, do hereby proclaim the day January 23rd in the

calendar year as Rio Grande Lodge number 81 AF and AM day done on this 20th day of January 2026 signed by the mayor and city commission. Congratulations Thank you, mayor. Thank you, city commission, for recognizing our fraternity with this wonderful proclamation. 175 years here in Brownsville. If I'm not mistaken, there's really only two organizations in town that are older than us. The Episcopalian Church and the Presbyterian Church, whose founder, by the way, Hyram Chamberlain. I'm happy to say that I carry his torch since he was one of our lodg's very first leaders. But since then, the Masons of Rio Grand Lodge 81, ancient free and accepted Masons, which is what the initials stand for, uh, have been witnessed to all the illustrious episodes of Brownsville

history, meeting continuously since the 1851, except with four interruptions. The first being when the Union occupied Brownsville in the Civil War. The second being the yellow fever epidemic of the late 1800s. The third being the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and I think you can guess what the fourth one is. We we were all there.

Uh but but from the very beginning um the membership of Rio Grand 81 has been adding value to our community through ceremonies and teachings inspired by those of the ancient stonemasons which built the cathedrals and temples of ancient times to honor a higher calling. our creator. Uh we are not a religion nor a substitute for a religion, but we are very spiritual in nature where we encourage our members to adapt our teachings in a way that makes sense to their faith and philosophies to add value to themselves, their families, and their communities so that we could continue our mission to make better fathers, better husbands, and better men. City Commission. Thank you all for this wonderful award to celebrate our 175th anniversary. The next proclamation is to recognize and support the challenge RGV 2026. So, it is my honor to present this proclamation of the city commission of Brownsville, Texas. Um, recognizing supporting the challenge RGB 2026. Whereas the city of Brownsville and UT Health Houston School of Public Health, the Brownsville Regional Campus, in their ongoing commitment to health and well-being of citizens, recognize the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing public health challenges and are excited to bring the community the

challenge RGV 2026. And whereas the the challenge RGV 2026 is a healthy weight loss and lifestyle change initiative. This year marks the 17th season of the challenge RGV in Cameron County. What started in Brownsville has spread to other communities in the region. And whereas the challenge RGV 2026 presents a unique opportunity for community engagement, health promotion, and innovative approaches to public health. And whereas it is dedicated to providing individuals with essential tools and opportunities to foster sustainable healthy lifestyle changes and when appropriate to facilitate weight loss. And whereas over the course of three months, participants will have free access to gyms, exercise classes, health screenings, cooking classes, and outdoor fitness opportunities. These opportunities provide exposure and support to local fitness and health related businesses in Brownsville. In addition, participants will also be able to choose to receive weekly motivational text messages, emails, and access web-based support. And whereas we recognize the importance of this partnership in fostering a healthier community and setting to a precedent for effective public health collaboration, we pledge our resources and support towards the success of the challenge RGB 2026 for a healthier Brownsville. And now we, the members of the city commission of the city of Brownsville, Texas, by virtue of the authority vested by the charter of said city, do hereby recognize and support the RGB challenge 2026 to actively participate to build a healthier state and healthier communities. Done on this the 20th day

of January 2026. Signed, the mayor and the city commission. Honorable mayor and commissioners, good evening. You know, it's um so by the way, those photos were our before and we'll have the after photos after the challenge and we'll see what what the difference is. Um, you know, it's important that as we go into the 17th seasons of the challenge RGV that we commemorate everyone that's been a part of the challenge in many years. Earlier today, uh, as we were huddling, uh, for the day's events, you know, it came to mind about u just how much work goes

every year into putting on an activity where every citizen gets to benefit these services at no cost to them. And over those many years, uh, I recently heard the experience that many of the gym owners have shared with the community of the before and after testimonials of people's, uh, lives being that much better because of the weight loss and the physical activity levels. So I wanted to maintain the perspective that the ongoing commitment for the challenge RGV and the citizens as as we've as the data through the school public health has shared with the community uh we have measured progress and we will continue to share that information with the public because we we know the uh the consequences of poor lifestyles. We learned it during co and if there's any any other way to continue the conversation is a positive mindset that comes from the challenge RGV say a few brief words it's super exciting all the enthusiasm that after even 17 years um every year we look at each other and say do we want to do this again because it's really a lot of voluntary um woman and manpower um and and we get so many messages and so many of the gyms that have actually built their businesses off of the challenge. If you remember, you know, 17 years ago, I think we were talking about it at the press conference, there were only one or two gyms in town. Um, and this gives small businesses kind of an incubator opportunity. So, not only gyms, but also healthy food options. And it also is something that we can come together as a community and celebrate with all of the events and activities. Um, we do have some data that is showing that Brownsville in particular is moving in the right direction in terms of obesity and diabetes while the rest of the state is unfortunately not um and even region. And so we're super excited about any way that we can um make healthy choices easier for people. We know people want to be healthy. It's just sometimes hard.

We've got a lot of barriers. Um so anything that we can do to work together um and also to track that data to see that the investment is worth it. So thank you very much for your support mayor and commission

and and then the team that's behind us from the school of public health and and many other people at turnout for the event. Don't forget to come out this at our f first weighin tomorrow and then this Saturday. Thank you. Uh and for the record that we do have Commissioner Marcas present for the meeting. Next we will enter into the public comment period of of the agenda. Uh section 2-26 um under meetings and agendas under conduct says uh that conversations u and between or or amongst the audience members should be conducted outside the meeting room and that attendees should refrain from the conversations while commission is in session. cell phones that attendees must refrain from the operation and use of of the cellar of uh telephone pagers, etc. or any of the mechanical devices that may disrupt any of the city commission's proceedings. C. Uh placards, banners, or signs are not are not permitted in the commission chamber or any other room in which the city uh in which the city commission uh conducts a meeting. including uh I mean this prohibition are the various hats, caps, visors and t-shirts which may um represent the sentiments as alluded to regarding the placards, banners and or signs. Exhibits, displays, visual aids used in connection um with the presentation to the city commission are permitted. E only the city commission members and city staff may approach the das. If a report letter etc is to be presented to the commission, it should be given to the city secretary or staff who will make the distribution. It is preferable that the item to be distributed uh be given to the city secretary prior to the meeting time. A copy of the item should be made available uh for the city secretary's official record. F. All comments shall be made to the mayor and the city commission as a whole and not to an individual commission member. At this time, we have received four pre-registered comment forms in which um um excuse me um I mean which two are are

for the public hearing item number two. So we'll have two during this portion of the public comments. We'll start with Yolanda Spece. So, few weeks ago, Renee Good was murdered not far from her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Immediately, she was victim shamed. Horrible things were said about her and she's dead, so she's unable to defend herself. didn't stop anyone from blaming her for not complying. By not pointing things out, people don't know what to do when officers or agents approach them aggressively. In some cases, people who comply are in a position to lose their property and in good's case their lives. I complied and my dog was taken from me because Officer Cvantes did not know the law or policy or my rights. My dog was taken and I don't know if Samantha Natalie Vargas sold my dog or if my dog is alive or dead because she allegedly lost the dog hours after receiving the dog. Cvantes not only got promoted even though he poorly enforced the law, not just in my case, I've seen other cases as well. It wasn't inappropriate for me to tell you about it. And it didn't give you permission to get abusive and gaslight me. What it showed me and people is that if you comply or don't comply, you lose because of incompetent police officers and agents. Renee Good lost her life because she didn't comply. I complied but lost my dog under duress, lies, evasion, and trickery by an incompetent and negligent police officer. What should we do if police are not

properly trained to do their job correctly, efficiently, and effectively? Citizens are between a rock and a hard place, but your phone, computer monitor, or avoiding eye contact with us seems to take priority, as does collecting a check for doing absolutely nothing for the community you serve. As pointed out, your job is to serve Brownsville residents and your Brownsville police are supposed to be serving, protecting, and upholding the law correctly. The lack of professionalism, service, and the gaslighting does not serve us. It doesn't. It tells us that you should not be in those seats. So, you and the Brownsville Police Department make it hard for people to comply when PD is clueless in how to do their jobs. Yet you reward them. You promote them. And you go out of your way to ignore our concerns. There's a lot of dysfunction and toxic behavior in Brownsville. Make room for someone who wants to do right by our community. Quit. Resign. Don't run anymore. Brownsville does not deserve this any longer. Next we have uh Angela Han mayor and commissioner. My name is Angela Hen and I live in Brownsville. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I like to offer a brief forward uh observation. Looking at today's agenda, it's clearly that Brownsville is making important decisions around infrastructure, development, and long-term investment. These are the kinds of choice that quietly determine whether a city will

what will stand in the years from now. Recently, where while I'm spending time in San Antonio, I noticed how openly civic institutions and businesses leaders speaks about regional partnership between cities. the private sectors and government particularly around downtown revitalization and regional connectivity. real is often part of those conversations uh not as immediate project but but as a shared future orientated goals and that experience made me think about South Texas Texas not as a collection of separate cities but as a single economic and human system. Brownsville, Starbase, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin and surrounding communities are already linked by workforce, supply chains, education, culture, even our even if our infrastructure has not reached to that point yet. When cities plan only within their own boundaries, growth remain limited by those boundaries. When regions plan together, they expand opportunity, attracting talent, strengthening our tourism, and building long-term resilience. Real connectivity, whether regional today or higher speed in the future, is not speculative. It is structural. It shapes where people live, where companies invest, and how opportunities flow across the state. Cities that recognize this early tend to lead. Those that don't often spend decades trying to catch up. I think transformational infrastructure doesn't begin with construction or funding. It begins with alignment with cities willing to take willing to talk early, think beyond jurisdictional lines and

ensure they are at the table when long-term decisions are made. My hope is that Brownsville continues to see itself not only as a city making good decisions today, but as a regional strategic partner in intentionally positioning itself for Texas next chapter. Thank you for your time and thank you for your service for this city. So that will conclude the public comment portion of the agenda. Next is is the presentation. is a proposal to renovate uh Washington Park.

Uh mayor and commission um Danny Loff has approached staff uh with a proposal to renovate Washington Park. U we have uh vetted this uh renovation project. It is in alignment with the preliminary findings from the parks health and recreation master plan. He's also presented this um this idea to the parks and recreation advisory board and we offered him an opportunity tonight to present it to you the commission and and the public.

Good evening mayor and commissioners. We have our most of our sedto board members here here. Thank you for guest. You're going to see this for the first time in public. There'll be a presentation on a proposed renovation of Washington Park thanks to Sombrero Festival. wash.

This this wash in the house. almost. clarification. This is the idea. Thank you. Sunday up Saturday.

This is all false. It's a perfect symbol for any part. Nice. Nice This is for the lives of all seasons. Step

back. The capital So, right now we're asking for your blessing. We have we are at step one, moving into step two. If you like that little slogan, you can thank your mayor. He came up with it. He didn't know it. But I appreciate what y'all have done for the city of Brownsville. Well, I noticed that 12th Street or and these streets are paved now with good sewer projects com some of them completed. I guess the infrastructure thank you for you know and I think when I give you these bumper stickers if you do put them on your truck and if you don't put them on your truck I'll take them back. But it says think big. It's okay. But I think this supports not only Washington Park renovation, but this supports what you guys have done for our city. It's uh it's pretty amazing over the last several years. So, I think I know the city thanks you. I hear it all the time. So, uh I don't know if you're going to vote or you're going to just do the the blessing, but uh we need to move to phase two.

So, Mr. off. I want to thank you and Sombrero Festival for uh taking the initiative here. Obviously, you put a lot of thought and a lot of work into this. Um I think I I totally agree that Washington Park needs a lot of work, a lot of TLC, a lot of uh reimagining. Um and we are blessed to have a partner in in you and the broest. I do want to ask uh Allan and city staff about the parks master plan process and how this fits in with that and get your comments about that. Thank you, mayor. Um, thank you, Mr. Loff. Um, it does, one of the major findings I think in the in the draft um, master plan that we've seen is that our our especially our older parks need some TLC. They need some renovation. Um, the plan is full of a lot of ideas from the community and several of the plans that are suggested in this renovation are included in the master plan. Several of these ideas are included there. Um what I would suggest is that we sit down with um Mr. Lo and his group. We come up with some type of memorandum of understanding or or some you know some type of document that you all could officially bless as a resolution u one that passes legal muster and fits within all of our parameters and then uh we go forward from there. But we appreciate the effort. We love the ideas. they are in alignment with um what's coming out of the master plan and we think we this would be great especially if you're able to raise all the funds to pay for it. Our taxpayers would love that.

And just a question for legal when when do you think you could have something like that depending on negotiations we can probably have something at the next meeting or next week? Uh February 3rd. Oh, February. Okay. I'll open it to the rest of the commission. February 1st. Third. I like that. Thank you.

I just wanted to thank you so much for your creativity and your continuous efforts in making Bronzeville beautiful and bringing forth cultural events such as helping and doing some festival. Um I know that when you showed me this presentation here at city hall, my daughter was with me and she saw it and she loved it and she was like, "Mom, please make this happen." And so of course that would be a decision that we would make collaboratively along with input from the community as well. And I just wanted to thank you for continuing to create. I know what it feels like when you start getting ideas and you're like we got to do this and start implementing and getting the right people in place to execute. And so thank you for all that you do for Bronzeville. May you continue to set the example for other residents and citizens that whatever idea you may have to bring it forth to the city commission. whatever you may have and God has put into your heart, may you execute it on that with the right people so you can give a better quality of life and it'll change the trajectory of a city and bring in smiles to the people that live here. So, thank you for that.

Thank you, Mr. Law, for coming out tonight. I I want to echo Commissioner Masia's comments and uh your initiative to really bring this forth for our community. And and in saying that, I wanted to ask was the community involved in any of the preliminary uh uh concepts or any ideas, recommendations. I think uh engaging the community always helps because not only are they included, but they'll have a sense of ownership and they'll also take care of the things when we take them along the process. Did we did we engage anyone thus far? Are you asking the question? Yes, sir. Ask it again. I I was thought you were making a statement there. Yeah. What any other

was any of the community engaged in the conceptual planning of this? Uh at this point we've talked to the master planners at at the park and uh we've talked to the to the uh city managers and so forth uh some festival and and when you say you guys are looking at me, we got to be looking at the whole, you know, whole shebang of sodet people in the group and so forth. So uh at that point I mean nothing really official surveys and stuff but remember this is a design or the concept is not for some festival solely of course you know

the idea and realistically why we need to uh pursue this because we know what an event uh plaza can look like and what it needs for a large event. But we're looking at people like Zumba, Classes, Chess, the poor uh symphony in the park. I think we ran them off 15 years ago from the park because they tried to put their festival in or uh their activity in right after some festival in was a dust storm. So then they took off to Texas Southmost College and never returned. So uh yeah, I think we're going to encompass everybody.

I think that that's important for me personally. I the park belongs to the people, you know, it's it's paid by taxpayer money and uh just including them in every step of the way is important. Uh I see the uh the reason that electric cars were up there, I saw the church there on Jefferson Street had blocks some uh a block off and the kids were running their electric cars up and down Jefferson Street about seven 8 10 years ago. So it's like is there a better safer place? Maybe Washington Plaza. Yes, Commissioner. When we talk with them about theou, we can include a statement in there about community engagement after they hire their architect. Um, that' probably be a great step. Absolutely. Thank you.

We got architects. We got civil engineer first, too. So, we just like this first step to to finish off and we'll get into phase two. Good. Thank you, sir. Thank you. And that slogan is very good. I want to make sure it's only checking your cars and your trucks. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have the city manager update starting with the youth advisory board update.

Uh mayor and commission, we have two members of the youth advisory board, Valentina Pineda and Fria Diaz to report on their meeting last month. and please let us know what school you're from. Hello mayors and city commissioners. My name is Freda Diaz and I am representing Idea Brown as an alternate.

Hello. Good evening. My name is Valentina Pineda and I'm attend Hannah Early College High School and I'm a senior this year. I would like to provide an update on the youth advisory board meeting that was held on January 10th, 2026 at the central library. During this meeting, the board discussed several initiatives b focused on youth engagement, civ civic involvement, and sustainability. A major focus of our discussion was recycling awareness and ensuring participation opportunities were age appropriate and accessible. As part of this effort, the board will be hosting a recycling themed art competition for elementary and middle school students, allowing younger participants to engage with sustainability through creativity. In add in addition, in partnerships with Redfish Recycling, we discussed a city-wide recycling competition disc designed for high school students and youth organizations. This competition will involve registered teams submitting images of failed railfish recycled bins with the team collecting the most recyclable materials, receiving monetary rewards that will be used to support their club or organization. While details are still being finalized, the board has become has begun discussions on recognizing winners of recycling competition at the art competition event, creating a unified celebration that promotes recycling awareness across multiple age groups. Throughout our planning, we have been intentional about tailoring each competition on to the development of the participants, bal balancing creativity for younger students with structured team-based engagement for older youth. In addition, the board discussed the RGV Startup Week kickoff program for teens and agreed to established a youth day during YouTube during RGB Startup Week scheduled for April 25th, 2026.

in collaboration with the city with the Bronzeville Community Improvement Corporation and the Bronzeville Chamber of Commerce. The board also received updates on the One City Youth Scholarship Fund, confirmed that the scholarship portal is currently open and scheduled the One City Youth Scholarship golf tournament for January 31st, 2026, including discussions on volunteer coordination. Finally, the board scheduled meeting is the board scheduled's next meeting is for February 7th, 2026 at the Bronzeville Animal Regulation and Care Center and reaffirmed its commitment to having a youth advisory board members attend the meetings on youth initiatives and advocate for youth related issues. The January 10th meeting was productive and reinforced our commitment to serving a bridge between the youth of Bronzeville and the city leadership. Thank you for your time and continued support for the youth advisory board. Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you so much. Really appreciate you being here tonight. Next, we have the Brownsville's 173rd birthday at First Friday. Our party planner, Alan Garcus, is here.

I don't know if I give you an update. Thank you, Alan. Is it good right here? Oh, appreciate it. Mayor, commissioners, thank you so much for for having me today. I'm very excited to announce something uh with the commission and the public. Um, as you know, we do have first Friday every first Friday of the month. And uh this one specifically, uh we are looking at celebrating Brownsville's incorporation day uh in 173. So during first Friday um well before I get into what's happening on on the on the 6th of February uh let me kind of give you some background on first Friday itself. So first first Friday started back in 2019. Uh this was an initiative that was bootstrapped by downtown business owners that they started themselves at Market Square, right, to promote themselves to promote downtown Brownsville. And uh they they also, you know, worked on hiring our local artists and showcase local talent, right? Whether it was at market square like I mentioned or within their establishments, outside their establishments, right? So these are some of the images that we captured within this past year. But like I said, this was initially bootstrapped by the business owners, property owners in 2019. Obviously, COVID hit pretty hard. Um, but we knew that there was something there, right? So, with uh support from city manager's office, the mayor commission, we've been able to to work together with downtown business owners and property owners to get First Friday where it is today. And just a quick overview of some of the busier months during First Friday within the last couple of years. Uh we've seen an uh increase in attendance. Uh specifically uh in April, October, and December, which tend to be our more busier months. Summers tend to be a little bit warmer and also we do sometimes compete with events during Fourth of July, right? But I'm happy to say we started uh 2026 on a good foot or a good note. uh where we've had uh historically about anywhere from 2100 to close to 3,000 in January these

last couple years. This year uh last month we had over 5,100 people at at downtown. So it's it's it's a very exciting time to be in downtown um and just you know continue to promote our our business owners. Um these are some of the images that we work together. Um I'm actually quick shout out to Miss Samantha Diaz who's helping us put these together. She's uh someone that we recently hired because First Friday's gotten so big uh where she's gone out to business owners as well and discussed with them, what are you guys doing during First Friday? How can we help you? How can we continue to promote other than just, you know, bring uh musicians to Market Square to bring them to downtown Bronzeville. So, we work with them. They show us what they're promoting during that time and we continue to show that um on our social medias and promote that as well. So, they also themselves, as I mentioned, not only do they have those events or or those special um what's it called? Um I'm losing the word there. When they have specials, I'm sorry, they they show them during first Friday, we we help them and promote them, but they also do their own social media as well where they have, you know, their their what's it called? Events during First Friday, right? So, the idea is to bring people to downtown and promote uh downtown itself as a whole, right? This is just a quick example of some of the businesses participating during first Friday where they also have work together with other vendors. Sometimes they team up together to to have something during uh first Friday at their establishment and you can see some of the pup uh put golf that we see here. Um I believe Golden Grow has also done some some mixups with different coffee locations throughout town. So, it's just about, you know, again, promoting downtown Brownsville and not just at Market Square to expand outside of that to get that flow of traffic, right? To get that flow throughout all of downtown Brownsville. So, kind of to move on to that is what has the city done to help promote that? Well, we've all we've shut

uh uh we we've actually promoted um the BTX shuttle that is actually free to the public, right? So, in downtown, you just wave it down similar to like a taxi. they hop on, hop off where they want to go. And when of course we have uh petty cats specifically during First Friday to get them to their locations within the downtown core, right? So, we want to make sure that people are able to to move around to go to different areas in downtown. We also understand that sometimes parking can be a little tricky, right? I'm sure you guys don't experience that. No one does experience parking issues here, but sometimes it can be a little bit difficult, right? So, we want to make sure that people have that access, that mobility, that service, right? So, we have actually also as well have been hearing in our downtown master plan process that we've uh are doing great with the shuttle, but they would want to see maybe extend a little bit more hours extend outside the downtown core area. So, that's something that we might potentially explore as well. This just quick example of the area that it operates through with the hours. So, another discussion that we've been having with property owners and business owners um is to have some sort of shared street in downtown where we include um dining, seating, possibly uh more of an attraction area and um you know, work together to see how we can maybe potentially close East Adams during uh events, right? So see how maybe we can work together uh and and have that area congregation area to walk through and share it not only with the pedestrian but possibly we maybe share it with maybe veicular traffic something to explore right so we've been seeing that discussion happen not only through first Friday but through our downtown master plan process and um you know we're possibly considering at least starting the process with the petty caps to see how that works out possibly considering this first Friday as a pilot program. So, here's a quick example of what we're looking at where we have maybe the BTX shuttle passed by or a Petticat passed by and you still have that flow of traffic through East Adams and possible other areas of downtown, but we want to make sure that we at least test it in East Adams because that tends to be one

of the more busier streets as far as pedestrian traffic goes. So, want to get into the logistics of First Friday coming up uh February the 6th. And we're we for those that are listening online and for those that are here with us today, I encourage you guys to visit. It's such a great time. and just please support our downtown business. After all, this is something that they they started and we just are so happy to continue to do this and work together with them. So, we want to uh do something a little bit different that we haven't been done because we are celebrating, you know, Brownsville and uh big u you know, thank you to Commissioner and Commissioner Van for for supporting this idea, right? So, we're looking at areas of things that we haven't done, right? So that would be projections onto buildings, um, additional stages on Adams with potential lineups that go all the way until midnight because we want to celebrate Brazil's birthday, which is on the 7th. Um, so it's not necessarily, you know, the typical first Friday. We're doing this one just a little bit bigger and see how we can continue to do that as we move on to 2026. Um, some of the lineups are a little bit um, different now because we did have some discussion with some of the bands. Uh so you you might see them a little bit differently, but those are some of the ones that are going to be participating with the lineups changing um throughout the throughout the night. We also are looking at having additional seating and benches there with our property owners and business owners who sell food. We typically have them on the market square area, but we would like to bring them out onto the street like in the image that we showed earlier. We are looking at having different activities and games for the for the community. We will have live art being painted. we'll have um a biata being made uh for the city. So, we're having a different things working with our local community who actually are doing these things that you'll be able to see that real time. Um we're also having like aerialists and acrobats there. So, it's it's going to be a great time and I encourage everyone to attend like I mentioned. So we also are looking at projecting onto different buildings as well as I mentioned so that we can have

a countdown uh for browser celebration and this is some of the activity that that we're seeing on Adams and then of course we always will have our market square stage uh with again some of the u the bands switching a little bit in the the time slots because we had some some adjustments that we've just made today actually but we are looking to celebrate throughout the whole night which is very exciting to me but also very uh interesting because we've typically have done first Friday from 7 to about 11:12. Uh this one seems like it might go a little bit longer. So hopefully we can get everybody and keep them there and continue have them to continue to support our downtown businesses. This is just an example as I mentioned of of some of the shared streets that we're looking at it through our downtown master plan program. So possibly something that we could consider not only in Adams but maybe in other areas of downtown. But this is kind of the idea that we've been seeing and hearing from our community. And again, this just want to uh share, you know, and thank you for supporting First Friday, for supporting our our department and just continuing to see these events happen at at First Friday is um honestly very exciting and it's a blessing. As someone who's Browns are born and raised, it's it's very nice to to be part of this um First Friday event. I'm available for any questions.

Uh Mr. Garces, I want to commend you for everything you've done for uh the city of Bronzville and First Friday. Uh I've been there three times already and it's great to see the the citizens come out. Uh I hope and I wish more people would uh come out and experience this um events that you all put on or the city puts on for First Friday in the city of Brownzo. Uh, also, uh, Commissioner Uriel and myself, uh, took a little trip on the BTX Connect and it was a blast

and I think we should make it like a cash cab, too. That's what it reminded me of. Uh, but we had a great time. Uh I think uh having those type of uh transportations uh services you know would be a great great is a great great asset for people to come out if it's raining or a little cold uh so that they can use it and experience it. Uh I am glad uh when uh Commissioner Vial and myself uh pitched you this idea uh you were on board. Uh and I hope we can make it a a celebration for Brownsville. Uh I think Brownsville needs it. It's never been done before. Uh and I think I think we're I believe we're going to have a big turnout. Uh thank you for everything you do. Thank you for all the uh your employees, the employees of the city of Brownsville that are uh coordinating this. I know when I pitched the idea to Mr. Guard, uh he was on board with it right away. I I appreciate his uh alliance, his help uh and getting this done along with uh the other assistant city managers, Mr. Garcia and Mr. uh Saleda. Uh, and I hope it's a it goes to to show the city of Brown what we're made of. Uh, it's 173 years of of existence. That's a big deal. Uh, and I think Brownsville deserves it and we're going to celebrate the 1173rd birthday like it's never done before. Thank you, Miss Mr. Garces, for everything you do for the city of Brownsville.

I appreciate that. Thank you. and and by no means is this all me. I mean, I couldn't do it without with traffic, APW, internal services. Like, I I span spam their emails. I call them. I mean, this is this takes a village. So, I'm I'm really appreciative of the teamwork that we have uh with with the departments and like I said, couldn't do it without them. We recently just got uh you know, the the posters out, so we're working on that together and we'll be shooting that to to Mr. Jon's division so we can start blasting everybody out and letting people know what we're doing and what's happening.

No, I absolutely agree. And not only it takes a village, it takes an army. And uh all of our uh first responders, our city employees, they do a great job uh day in and day out. Uh and they need to be uh commendated for that. Uh I I truly believe that because they're the the the people that make the city go. Uh I know when I spoke to Commissioner Cardanes about this uh he is the district uh commissioner for this area and uh I'm glad to have him on board uh because it's important it's important to have all all the city commissioner and the mayor uh support uh an event like this because like I said it's never been done before and it's about to be done this year. Thank you Mr. Garces.

Um thank you Alan. I think it just gets better and better. Um, and I I commend you and your staff and the team for putting this together. I I don't know how we fit 5,000 people downtown and what we do. Um, I don't know if if you're looking at uh what's next in terms of, you know, maybe a shuttle service to like from the it-ch building or I I don't know because we've done that before with large events, right? I don't know how big we want to get, right? What the vision is uh just any thoughts?

Absolutely. So, I think that's something that we're definitely looking at exploring because we are hearing that through the downtown master plan process where we need to maybe expound outside the core area, see if we can maybe go to uh either whether it be the parking lots on on on St. Charles next to city hall, I'm sorry, city plaza or maybe like at ite where we can maybe shuttle groups of people. Um but yes, the for 2026 uh the goal is to maybe look outside of just market square to have maybe other areas um that the city owns or maybe work with property owners to team up to see how we can maybe spread the love throughout all of downtown. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you so much. And uh finally, mayor and commission, we're doing anformational update on the capital improvement program. We have a sizable capital improvement program, and I think it's important for us to inform you and inform the public on a regular basis. Um, assistant city manager Dodo Garcia is going to lead this discussion with his team.

Good afternoon, mayors, commissioners. Um today we will open up our CIP update of over $215 million investment in our community scheduled or program for 2026. Our first project and it's really nice to start off with this project, right? It's uh going to be an icon really for our community. $75 million public safety complex. Uh we're well on our way in our design. We're about 85% complete with design. getting ready to begin the first stages of advertising for construction of the site and getting it ready for the beautiful building that you all see here. Uh we estimate the construction of the building itself to begin around August of 2026 and hopefully we can get our officers in this building by the fall of 2028. Uh we'll move on to projects from engineering and public works. As you all many of you all may know, we do have a lot of concerns with the length of time it's taken on old highway 77. Uh we have several inspectors working on this project and making sure that it's being completed accurately and timely. Uh 50% of our sanitary sewer has been placed. Uh we're currently beginning the installation of our storm sewer work and subgrade work on our roadway. So, we should begin seeing some of the improvements on the north side uh of the road and hopefully begin to be utilized probably around July or August of this year. Uh the completion is not scheduled till March of 2027, assuming we get no more rain. Uh so, we may have a couple of months of delay there once uh hopefully we won't get too much rain this year. Uh on Wild Rose Lane, we uh have completed the installation 80% complete on the installation of the Culver pipes to box in the ditch that is located between uh Wild Rose and Oliva

Park. The uh there will be a trail that will be constructed over this uh pipe so that we have connectivity for our pedestrians. The road itself is scheduled to be complete by March of 2026. Once we complete this, the installation of the ditch, we'll move on to the construction of the road. The sanitary sewer line and water line are about 85% complete on Russell Road on Det Road. We're getting ready to begin the construction of this project. The design is 100% complete. We will likely advertise and anticipate awarding this project uh March of 2026. Uh this is a muchneeded roadway. We will be constructing a three-lane road with a center lane to allow for traffic to turn onto all the neighborhoods in this area. This will be from Paredes Line Road to uh Queens Woods or near Stage Coach uh Boulevard. The following project is Old Alice Road. We've received a lot of calls on when we will start the construction of Old Alice. We're about 90% complete with design. We anticipate having it complete by the end of March to begin our advertisement advertisement of this project and hopefully start construction early in the fall. Uh this will be another uh project similar to old highway 77 which will be replacing all the utilities that are underground and the roads. So the the completion of this project is roughly about 16 months uh once we begin construction. Long awaited Coffeeport Road. We're going to start with phase one. Uh phase one will run from FM82 to Parades Line Road with this uh contract is coming before you this evening for approval. So with with your approval of that contract, we will begin the construction of that project. Phase two is currently under design and we are acquiring easements for improve uh utility

improvements that we'll be doing to improve drainage in that area. We anticipate construction to begin late in 2026 uh for this project. Uh here in front of you, you have a list of the 2025. This is the projects that we did not complete last year that are now under construction right now. Uh these projects are 13 alleys that are reconstructed of which nine uh were being completed by our public works paving team. Uh we have an estimated savings of about $400,000 by complete $400,000 by completing these projects uh in-house. Uh the majority are completed. We do have five of these alleys that are under construction at this time. This is a map that shows more or less where uh these alleys are at that are currently being paved. Our 2026 alley improvement uh will have 21 alleys being reconstructed of which 15 will be completed by our public works team and the remaining alleys will be contracted out. Uh these 15 alleys will result of a savings of about $300,000 for our taxpayers. Uh the construction for for these alleys is scheduled to begin uh mid-March of 2026. Um the traffic I'm a little bit ahead. I'm giving you all some time to look at these slides. Uh don't worry, we will have a QR code at the end that'll have a summary and live updates of all the construction work that we're doing uh on all of these uh capital improvement projects. For traffic, traffic is a is a big issue in our city. We've been working heavily in our traffic congestion management for the last couple of years. Uh these are a list of improvements that consist of modernization of control cabinets, loops, lighting to improve our traffic signal timing. Uh we will also be completing various pedestrian signal improvements in the downtown area and other areas throughout the city where

we're having increased pedestrian traffic. Uh, as far as drainage, uh, in collaboration with Texas Water Development Board, we have now completed the West Brownsville drainage improvements, which will help alleviate flooding in West Brown along 17th Street. Upon approval from Texas Water and Development Board, we will be commencing the construction of our Four Corners detention pond and southmost water plane park, which is located uh on the southeast side of uh, Four Corners. This will help uh tremendously with flooding that we typically see in the on the Bokeh Chica and International uh during heavy rainstorms. Our second project is our flood sensor and culvert pipe uh project. This this will improve water flow for rasakas and ditches under roadways. For those of you who may not know what a Culbert is, uh we have seven that will be repaired or replaced as part of phase one, which are the green dots on the screen, and 20 of them that will be part of phase two. Our phase two contract will likely begin uh around summertime of this year. We're hoping with uh USGS, we have uh completed the installation of five sensors and data collectors. These are uh data collectors that will be fully maintained by USGS. Uh and we are no all the information and data will be available via their website and accessible to the public at all times. So if you ever want to see how our systems are working, how much water is flowing through these particular ditches or how much rain it uh we collected in these areas, uh this data will be available uh for anybody to look at. We are scheduled uh to commence the stage coach detention pond. Oh, wait. Let me I got a little bit ahead of myself. on Los Stomatees. We just

completed the dredging of the duck head raka and um the contractor is completing the removal of the hauling and dredging the the removing the dredge material and will shortly begin the overlay and reconstruction of East Avenue in this area that was uh utilized for the hauling of this material. Moving on to our multimmoal and transportation department, our southmost nature trail. This is the connection the connection between uh Porter High School area all the way down to the expressway. You can see the route here along 14th Street then cutting along through Roosevelt and then all the way down through McDavid. The design for this project is scheduled to complete to begin in March. And um we recently received a $20 million grant for the improvements of our traffic synchronization. This project will impact over 70% of our city. It's it's a huge improvement for most of your major roadways. It will it will provide much neededed signal improvements and synchronization that we've been talking about for many years in in our city. Uh in addition, it will obtain our communic it will increase our communication by developing our own private 5G network. This is a location of the area or a map. Everything you see in blue will be areas that will be impacted by this project. As you can see, it's it's a big part of Brownsville. Moving along to our Brownsville Metro, we have a project that will consist of seven areas that will be improved for our buses to be able to pull up to our bus stops accurate uh safely. And uh we will be improving 17 bus shelters throughout the city.

At our airport, we will be reconstructing our runway in four phases. runway 1836. Uh nearly almost a $19 million project mainly funded by an FAA grant. Uh this will we will also be reconstructing our aircraft rescue and firefighting uh facility. Right now we're working closely with them to see if we obtain funding to build a new one instead of work or instead of just improving the existing one. Uh we will come back to you once we are informed if we receive that funding. We're also working diligently on land acquisition for the runway extension. That's a project that we've discussed for many years. I'm glad to report that we're finally beginning the land acquisition for uh this project. Our internal services team is currently working on advertising for our city hall uh air conditioning and electrical system upgrades. We anticipate the renovation of this project to begin in early April and estimate about 18 months for the completion of this project. This will be for the entire uh city hall building that we're in right now. Soon we will also begin the finish out of the back storage area of our CMD CVB complex. Uh this project is scheduled to begin in March. We've been uh trying to get started on this area. We had a couple of setbacks, but we're looking to get this project complete soon. It should only take a couple of months uh to complete the construction of this project at the animal shelter. Uh as you all know, our animal shelter has been growing in population. We have a lot of pets out there that are available for adoption. Uh so with with the with the increased use of our facility come increased needs, right? Our air conditioning system is needing to be uh increase the capacity and the reliability due to some issues that we were having in the facility. In addition to that, we will include some electrical upgrades that will assist with the with

the installation of our air conditioning system. This project as well is scheduled to take about 18 months. The long duration on this project is we have to maintain the facility in use uh at all times. So, it makes it a little bit more complex. For our parks department, I'll be brief. We come to you to present the BCIC park improvements which talks about all the projects that we have scheduled. So, to not take up too much time today, I'll just let you know that we're working really, really hard to get our projects, our key projects, our splash pads, uh, ready for the summer, right? Uh, we all need a place to cool off during during the summer and something for our kids to do. So, our parks team is working, uh, very diligently to get those projects complete. I'd like to thank BCIC for the collaboration on these projects and the funding uh, for these projects. as well. As you can see, we have many uh capital improvement projects under construction. Our grants department in collaboration with the departments you saw mentioned here today have been working diligently in in obtaining grants for our city. Out of the 215 million, over 30% of it, 65.9 million is coming to us from grants. I think it's really important to highlight that figure uh to you today. Uh that's taxpayer money that that our citizens get to save, right? and we get to reap the benefits from these improvements. Uh I'll leave you here with a QR code in case you all want additional information. You can also visit this site to obtain updates as the construction is moving along for the projects that were mentioned and additional projects uh that are part of our CIP that were not mentioned today. Uh, I'd also like to take a brief moment before I open it up to any questions to thank our dedicated employees for working tirelessly to ensure that these projects are delivered and completed successfully and on time. I know it's uh challenging, especially with the roadway construction for many of our citizens and our businesses, but we're doing

everything we can to complete these projects in a timely manner for you all. With that, I'll entertain any questions. Well, thank you for your comprehensive presentation. Um, I think it's historic. I don't I don't think we've ever had $215 million invested in our infrastructure in one in one year. Right. Correct. I would you agree? Oh, definitely agree.

So, I I do thank uh staff and especially our grants team. Uh couldn't do it without you guys. Um and also the commission for the for the vision and you know um I I don't I don't take credit for this. I really don't. But it's really what we're doing as a city and and and being bold and and and working as a team. So I thank you. Thank you and your team. Appreciate you, mayor. Thank you all. Next, we will enter into the consent agenda items portion of the meeting. May I'd like to uh pull item number one and number 15. Move to approve um all of the consent agenda except for number one and 15.

Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those oppos say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries item number one regarding the minutes from the January 6th. Yes, ma'am. On the minutes, I had a small correction on the city manager's update number two. the the lady's name was Heidi Kong, not Wendy Hansen that came forward. Okay. I just wanted to make that correction on there. And I did verify with them so it is accurate. And with that, I will move to approve the minutes. Second. We have a motion and second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those oppos say nay.

I have it. Motion carries. The next consent item is item number 15 which is the consideration and approval um on the second and the final reading on ordinance number 2026-1797. I'm amending uh chapter 2 the administrative article 2 under under the city commission as section 2-26 meetings and agendas to adopt to adopt the regulations that ensure that meetings of the city commission are conducted in a way that allows business of the city to be effectively conducted. Thank you. On this item, I wanted to just uh ensure that the amended uh language added, which was city business, I believe, added. Yes. Okay. And I took the I took some time on this and I actually want to vote again on this item. So, if I may, that's all I had. I just wanted to make sure that the language is added. We need a motion. Did you motion?

What's that? Okay. Hey, I'll entertain a motion here. Move to approve motion. We have a second. I'll second, but I want clarification. I don't remember exactly what it's about. Can you read that ordinance on the the speakers,

which this part that we're actually looking at right now? So on this particular one, we were adding um rules of conduct for public hearings that mirror public comments, so they would have the same amount of time. Of course, you can extend it. We gave additional time to those that need translation. Um when you use a translator, most people speak the native lang well native language, they speak English and Spanish. um but when they speak in their um their dialect like Spanish for example um we might need someone that needs the English version or Spanish. So the point is we give them more time for that. Um, additionally, the last uh addition did have that we were going to just do uh commission agenda items, but at the last amendment when you all approved the first reading, it was amended to include um basically what it had before, agenda items and city business. Um, it also includes the reinforces filibustering. you can't filibuster during public comments and also prohibits moments of silence if you have additional time during your moments of silence um during your public comments or if you decide that your public comment is silence that it's prohibited.

Thank you. Yes, sir. Any further discussion? No, just to clarify where I'm coming from from this. I was I I took the time to think about it and I just didn't want to limit the public on having the ability to speak on what they want at public comments. So that's just that's where I'm coming from. Thank you. Any other comment? No. All right. If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. I. I. All those say nay. Nay.

I'm going to vote nay as well. um because I know it's second it but I just wanted to get the discussion going and the reason is I think that uh we should be allowed to speak about anything. So so I do think we need limits. I think the limits we have established with 10 although we always suspend the rules. So I'm just going to vote nay.

And I just wanted to comment on here that there's other ways to also communicate with us city commissioners. We have our email, we have Facebook, Instagram, you can DM me my cell phone number as well. Um, it's as well on it's 956-589-0984. I'm going to go ahead and put it out there. You can text me personally, call me. Um, I make myself available to you and I'm here to serve you in every possible way. Not only during city commission meetings, which are the first and the third month, but I make myself available to you 24/7 365. I

I don't want 247. Try to keep it till like 10 or 11 p.m. Thank you. I'm messing with Commissioner. Good job, Commissioner. I think it was a 4-3. So, it's a 42. Is that what I heard? I voted against it in the vot against my objection. I think it was a 43. Is that right? Yes. 43. 43 goes through. Could we do roll call? Okay. Call here. She's going to do roll call. Commissioner Cardinas. Nay. Commissioner Dillion. Commissioner Gonski. May. Mayor Cow. Hi. Commissioner Vieo, Commissioner Marcas, I. Commissioner Martinez,

nay. I have that. Motion carries.

The motion passes. We'll move on to the public hearing portion. Item number one is a public hearing and action. Uh I'm on the first reading on ordinance number 2026-1794 on an ordinance of of the Brownsville City Commission uh repealing and replacing chapter 110 of records in its entirety of the city of Brownsville's code of ordinances to regulate the record service and providing for a penalty clause per and providing for an effective date in dealing with related matters. Mayor and city commission. In 2019, we revised the city record ordinance to include transferring licensing and inspections to the police department. We created a electronic database for all towed vehicles within the city and we updated fee schedules for incident management police tow vehicles. At that time, we increased the fees for police related tow vehicles from $95 to 200. This past summer, this past summer, we met with record company owners who requested revisions on the fee schedules specifically for police related incident management toes. These are toes for vehicles involved in traffic accidents or incidents that disrupt normal traffic operations. The record company cited inflation related issues including increased costs for record vehicles, higher insurance premiums, and rising employee wages. During that meeting, we reached a consensus on a new fee increases for police related toes from $200 to $325 for standard vehicles, $425 for 2 and a half ton trucks, $750 for 18 wheeled tractor trailers. The changes were updated in the city's master fee schedule in October.

For reference, the Texas Department of Public Department of Licensing and Regulations, TDLR, has set caps for private property towing fees. Private property towing fees are authorized by the owner of a parking facility such as an apartment building, restaurant, or business parking lot. And our captain's Texas for vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs or less, the cap is $272. For vehicles weighing more than 10,000 lbs but under 25,000 lbs, the fee is capped at 380. And for vehicles weighing 25,000 of pounds or more, the cap ranges from $489 to a maximum of $978. It's important to note that there are no set state set fees for police related incident management toes. Local municipalities and counties may establish these fees. The city attorney's office has taken this opportunity to update outdated language in this ordinance revision. Additionally, we included a requirement for proof of liability insurance when a customer drives an pounded vehicle off the record lot. Currently, there are 24 record companies on the lease rotation list. Many of the record owners are present tonight for this public hearing and can provide further comments. This is a public hearing. There any questions or comments from the commission?

Yeah, I have a question. Um, I was looking at the proposed fees. It says 325. It's at 200, but yet uh the state says under 10,000. Is that 272? What's Yeah, that's for private toes. This this what we're talking about is police initiated traffic

accidents. Accidents something that that involves problems with traffic congestion. This is has nothing to do with private parking lots. The the toes where they pick up vehicles where they have the signs and the record companies kind of wait around for someone to park in them and pull them. So that has nothing to do with it. That's the state just sets for private towing fees. This is just for record fees out out of the 24 companies that we have most 21 or 20 of them actually that's all they do is police toes. A customer requests to a dealership calls. That's all they do. These are these are business men and women uh small businessmen and women owners. And that's all they do. And they work on a police rotation list and customer calls for service. I put that in reference just so you be aware that the state does regulate private towing fees. That's for when the owner of a parking lot calls and says, "Come pick up the vehicle." They parked illegally in my parking lot. I just think it's a big jump from 200 to 325. How long ago was it? Did you say? I'm sorry I missed it.

Like I said, back in 2019, we moved from $95 to 200. And again, when we met with them during the summer, uh, since 2019, insurance has gone up, employee wages, costal records have almost doubled. And, uh, again, these are small business women and women who own these places and and they're feeling the pinch. And thank you. So do you know how we compare with other cities in the Haren right now is doing 300. Harling I know Harling is doing 300. I I think Macallen I don't have the information on Mac Allen.

What else? And you mentioned that all of these are on rotation and they work collaborative collaborately with the Bronzo Police Department. That's correct. We have an electronic database that actually we assign the records and and it kind of roundroins and picks the record and and then they come and uh uh they work for our traffic accidents. We have major spills, 18-wheeler crashes, uh anything that's causing traffic problems in the public streets, that's what we address and that's how they we work with them. And it's all electronic database. When your vehicle gets towed, uh you can go to the website. It's you punch your license plate in or description of a vehicle and it shows you where your vehicle's at. So, it's all electronic. Now,

any questions or comments? If it's a car accident and say my car is totaled, can I still have the option of calling uh AAA uh instead of saying this service?

Yes, you can. Um again though, if it's going to be an hour or if there's a long I mean there's issues on trams is really growing. So, I mean we got to expedite this. So, we have record on rotation. So, we call to get the record out if uh right at the time if you had worked something out uh to where you could get a record in, but you'd have to do it pretty fast because traffic, especially on major freeways and and roads, can get it can get very dangerous. And our our goal is police to get it cleared as quickly as possible. Um sir, got a question for you. Um, as far as DPS and and the sheriff's department, what are there are they are they the same fees for them also? No. Uh,

or what's the the is there a big difference of in pricing? Uh, like I said, City Harage I know is 300. Most cities are going around that there actually the owners out here probably can give you a little better information. Some of them do actually work those cities and they can talk to you about those fees and I'm sure one or two may come up and talk. Okay. Okay. I was just concerned to see what uh in case DPS wanted to have a co a card towed. What do they charge and county? That that was what I wanted. Well, again, I think the record orders I believe they're close they're they're close to $300 and and up. So, uh I know the fees have all gone up. Uh

Commissioner, we'll get that information for you before the second reading. C could you also get the fees from our cities surrounding us? Yeah, absolutely. We'll grab that. All right. This is a public hearing. So, if there's anyone here that wishes to address the commission on this this item, please step forward and state your name.

Good evening. My name is Annabelle Velasquez and we're the owners from Allstar Towing. and we have other two companies. We we are here today because we are asking for your assistance. Um as Mr. Pascal said, right now the insurance has gone tremendously up for ours. We've had this businesses or small businesses forever and my parents started it when I was 5 years old and now we're continuing it ourselves. However, uh you asked the question about the state. TDLR is $300. That's what they're charging the state. Yes. And the sheriff department will they also charge $300. So it is and we've been with the $200 for the past well

2019.

2019 and it was lower before that. But yes, um we've had this business established as a family. Like I said, however, the insurancees has gone tremendously up. We started from 45,000 and now they're charging us $95,000. And uh everything is going up. Everything is going up. Um however, we would really appreciate your assistance to this too. So we can continue your family businesses. And then like I said, yeah, there are other towing members here that are going through the same thing, the same issues, but we really, you know, appreciate your assistance and helping us continue your business as a small business and and continue serving the city. Thank you so much for your time. Is there anyone else that wishes to address the commission?

Move to close public hearing, mayor. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Have a motion and second to close public hearing. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those say nay. Eyes have it. Public hearing now closed. Move to approve. Second. Second. All right. We have a motion and second to approve. Any further discussion? Not. All those in favor, please say I. I. I all those say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries.

The motion passes. Moving on to the public hearing number two. There's a public hearing in action on this on on the second and the final reading on ordinance number 2026-1795 to amend chapter 6 the amusements and the entertainment of the city of Brownsville's a code of ordinances to add article 4 um uh to establish the midtown entertainment district along Highway 69 of uh from Mata Luna Road to Morrison Road and along Highway 77 to uh to Central Boulevard between Morrison Road uh and Medata Luna Road along the Public Boulevard and and Ruben M. Thoris and its point of intersection uh with civil uh Boulevard to regulate bars and restaurants adding the civil and criminal penalties. This item was first read on January 6, 2026.

Good evening, Mayor and City Commission. Next slide, please. Since since our uh since our last reading, um what we have done is um Commissioner Delejon and I met with um some of the public cell um operators or or owners of the bars and um I see a few of them here. Thank you for coming. Um

can you go back a slide or two? like go back to the the slide with the January 19th. One more. All right. So, so that evening um we met him around noon that evening. Um I sat in my car for about two and a half hours just to watch what happens. Um, truth be told, I had not I had seen the videos on Facebook. I had heard about it. I had actually not seen it for myself. Um, I was aware that the police department was doing an operation there that evening, which is why you see the police cars. And so I just sat there for two and a half hours and then I drove around the plaza to see went around the plazas to see what the situation was. Um, now you can do the next slide and parental guidance. There is some language in this one. yesterday. Investigation.

And this next slide shows I believe a fight that occurred over the weekend um actually on Saturday which is the day after I was there. So as you can see this is inside a particular establishment. It's not outside. You don't see any security guards in this initial video. I don't know if those wearing a black shirt may be bouncers. It's really difficult to tell. It seems like the Patriots um ended up breaking up the fight themselves, but you can skip to the next video. And here's another video where you see it outside. Of course, these are except for the one that happened over the weekend. Um, a lot of these happened over the summer and as you saw from the very first video where he was talking about the police being there, that was Jul in July and that coincides when we started reaching out to the bar owners. We reached out to them in June to notify them um the property owners of our intent to use the um attorney general's nuisance provision to do enforcement. Obviously PD was out there. One of the comments I've heard is we don't have cops out here, but in most of these videos, all you see is cops um within the videos. Um next slide. Here's another fight that you see. Again, this was over the summer. And you see this activity is happening outside in that in the just outside the establishment. Next slide. And I'm not here's another one. But as you can see, the point is there's a lot of fights. All this is on Facebook, um, Instagram. Can't use Tik Tok because I have my city phone, but I would gather

it's on Tik Tok as well. Yes. Yeah. And so the the point is you have it on social media and the generations today want to put everything on social media which is perfect for us from an enforcement standpoint because these individuals don't understand that we can find out who they are and then can you go back one slide find out who they are press you know charges are pressed eventually arrest them. Um, we asked the police department to pull stats for the last um, since 2022 to now. And we included some um, some restaurants like IHOP, Staples, Home to Suites. Some of these are not obviously bars or the area surrounding, but we wanted to include them so that you can see the random numbers that they have. if it's a just a regular disturbance or if it is um a call on theft. Um and you can see the numbers have slowly increased over the years for some of these um establishments. Next slide. And so when I hear citizens um ask the city to implement something that would help curtail this type of activity. Um now that I've seen it for myself, um I did that night I did notice that people pre-party in their car and then they go into the bars which is um not good for the bar owners because they're not buying alcohol, right? They're kind of getting drunk for free in their car. Um, and then when they exit the establishments at 2 am, they congregate in the parking lots. Um, and they actually go over to across the street to

the parking lot where um um, La Pampa is. And some of them have their cars towed, so they're kind of drunk wondering where their car is. Um, I saw a few individuals still drinking afterwards in their like outside their car. I saw one gentleman drinking long necks and then just throwing them in the parking lot. And so when we think of the solution for this, we are um recommending a two-step solution. One of course is the most immediate is establishing the Midtown Entertainment District. Um the reason for this is under the TABC code that we're adopting this under, it would have immediate impact after adoption of course publication. Um because of where we're grabbing this law that allows us to do something like this. It is a limited area which is the central business area. As I stated last time, you couldn't do it citywide for the reason that only about 80 to 90% of it can be commercial um or has to be commercial. And it would eliminate this wet restaurant loophole. Those restaurants that stop serving food at midnight but continue serving alcohol past midnight until 2 am. Um it would require enhanced security and age verification measures. So that's the short-term quick response. long term because what we anticipate is these these establishments in the Midtown entertainment district as we start pulling cos for non-compliance um there's nothing that prohibits them from opening another bar somewhere else in another area um or instead of it being the public area we might notice it being Ruben Toris area or some other area in the city Alton Glor and so The longer term solution is to uh adopt

citywide requirements for specific use permits for these establishments. Um it would not be immediate. There is requires that we have to publish. We have to have public hearings. P&Z has to make a recommendation. Then it comes to commission. Um but but this would be citywide. those that are established would be grandfathered in or what we call legal non-conforming in the business planning. Um, and at y'all's direction, we did meet with some downtown bar owners or business owners rather um to kind of go over these different steps. And at the next um workshop that we have for you all, we'll kind of give you a rundown on what those what they presentation they received recommendations from P&Z. So we'll have a workshop for you all on that. But the UDC also would eliminate the wet restaurant loopho as well and it would require enhanced security and age verification measures. Our we have published in the newspaper so that we can have the public hearings. Planning and zoning commission's hearing will be February the 5th. First reading to city commission will be fee February 17th and then the second and final meeting would be March 3rd. Next slide. Um we did expand the establishments to include disco techs, discos, music venues, nightclubs. Um essentially there's a these are establishments that derive more than 51% of their um gross revenue from on premise of alcoholic beverages for on-remise consumption after 12 a.m. And again, the goal is not to stagnate business. Um city of Brownsville is very businessfriendly. We want to see business grow, especially with the um Embassy Suites hotel that would be going in around that area. We're going to see a our own public cell renaissance, if

you will, where it might become an entertainment hub, but we have to balance it with the public welfare. Uh we believe that this would be accomplished through security, lighting, and crowd management standards. Next slide. This is the proposed uh district overlay for the entertainment district. Um we did not include it in this prior point presentation but before you all on the dis is a map that includes the establishments um that have either late hour or um those that would be considered wet restaurants. And as you can so you can see kind of where they congregate and you see that a lot of it does fit this particular map. That's how planning decided on the boundaries. Next slide. The difference from last time when we presented this is we did um based on the amendment that was requested to allow um or require commission security officers. We did define what a peace officer is and what a commission security officer is so that the bars would have. We're not forcing them to hire this is not a scheme to get them to hire Brownsville Police Department um officers that are off duty. rather we want them to hire the the ones that are the security guards that if you will um have the type of training to be able to deal with these type of activity and so they would have to have a minimum level two commissioned uh security guard license. We also uh added a definition for operator. Next slide. And for property owner because the one of the uh amendments or request was the property owners that are leasing these establishments. Um they need to also be responsible as

well. And so we added that definition for this. Um, I will add that in my review of the area, um, at midnight there is plentiful of lighting, which if you look at the videos, the videos you can see the activity. So there there's there's lighting already. Um, so I I think on this particular one, I don't see a property owner having an issue because most of the parking lots are lit pretty well. Um, the reason why I would recommend keeping it is if they decide that they want to relocate to another area, then we'll have this requirement that if that establishment opens up, they have to have adequate lighting. So, this would ensure that they have that lighting. Um, and then at the request, the other final amendment was we would not require security guards uh or officers until they had at least two violations. So, one for every 75 people. And so we decided to define what violation is. And so it's notice of any violation, citation, any documentation of a violation regardless of whether the violation le leads to a conviction or if it's corrected within the initial required time frame. Next slide. Same requirements as last time. Um those haven't changed. My understanding is electronic ID verification. Um the many of the bar owners had said that they would uh they I don't want to put words in their mouth but they may be okay with it. Um the red indicates the addition that we had property owners whose premises are are leased to an operator must provide adequate lighting for the parking areas. Next slide. And the open container. I'm just going to skip to open container. the open container if it's enforced would I believe address some of the

pre-party and after partying. Um having this restriction in there will allow us to be able to enforce that to prevent the people from actually drinking in the parking lot. Um and then as I said earlier as requested they will have additional requirements if they have that provision um that they have at least two violations then they would be required to have one licensed security officer per 75 people. Next slide. I do want to also stress that while the violations 2,000 for health and safety violations, 500 for all others, these are at the city level, there are additional TABC violations um that if TABC uh cooperates with us, then we'd be able to assess those violations as well. Next slide. So, as far as the ordinance um has been drafted for the second review, are there any questions, concerns? Uh Mr. Trovin, got a uh I got several questions. That one officer per 75 uh uh patrons or citizens, it's not going to work. There's got to be more officers. I don't want any officer getting in there and getting uh trampled. Uh there's got to be more than that one officer per 75 people. That's my biggest concern there. Uh my other concern is uh the plaza owner should he or she be responsible for having license or brown or local police departments uh patrolling the area? And I ask you that because if if a

a civic center holds a pinta party marriage, they hire their own security. Correct. I would assume so. Yes. And I I I would also be correct like Sombrtofest, they hire their own they hire the police department to do the security. They're also Am I correct there?

Yes. But there is a key difference in their properties. The where Sombrero Fest has theirs is the park and then if we're having Kunetas at the event center, they're city own. So, should we or can we hold the plaza owner, he or she or whoever it may be, to hire Brownsville PD to do security in that area? I I know that the owners and the bar owners, they do pay taxes. I completely understand that and uh I thank them for doing that. But uh we're having the city is having to pay I believe overtime. Correct me if I'm wrong. Mr. Chief Saletta, are we paying overtime to our police officers to handle that situation?

$2,800 a week. Yes, sir. This weekend was uh $5,700.

Okay. So, oh, so I think the plaza owner who leased the the suites or locations to the borrow owners should be responsible for paying that bill so that our other taxpayers aren't fitting this bill. Uh, am I correct on saying something like that? Well, I mean, given the from a perspective of as a as a taxpayer, I I I get the the sentiment that you you wouldn't want the taxpayer to foot the bill for security for establishment that should be providing their own security. The problem is that in the instance of it's not like um it's not like fire, right? fire. We have a situation, there's a fire, they respond to it, then we can assess the the charges for that fire, right? Um, with uh police enforcement, I believe it's a little different. So, I would have to research that to see if the rules would be applicable. Um, I don't believe so, but could be wrong. And we'll do that research and come back with you on that.

Okay. Um, I just want to make sure that that uh the owner of the plaza is held uh accountable for uh the overtime that the city's paying for them to go uh patrol, babysit this location. Um I think it's important. Uh I know we've had one death around that Midtown area, which was one death too many. Uh unfortunately, we had another individual male get stabbed. That's one too many. And we all have to be held accountable for our actions. Uh just like I am. I'm held for for my actions. I'm held at a higher standard. And I think we all need to be held accountable. Uh and that's what I I I'm truly believe. I I want businesses to succeed. I've met with the bar owners in this area at least four times to try and come to a solution to work this out and it seems like uh it's fallen on deaf ears. Uh I've done my part as the city commissioner of district 3. Uh I'm glad to see that we're moving in somewhat the right direction. Uh but I think there's still a lot of work more work to do. I commend you on going with me to the meeting with uh meeting the bar owners on last Friday because I thought it was important uh that they hear from you and what we're trying to do to help out every single business in District 3. Uh I commend you for going taking your time out of your busy schedule to go with me. Uh on top of that, um you know, we're here to be business

business friendly, but if the citizens cannot behave and they think it's funny recording these instances and putting them on Facebook, it gives Bronzo a bad uh image. And uh we're going to take care of that. Thank you, sir. Will um a couple of questions for me. The hard part is how are we going to hold accountable certain businesses are inside a plaza when this is happening in the parking lot. Now, uh I mean I do want to be real clear. I I think we have to do something. I just think so these plazas that it's happening in well the one that we were shown on on the videos that's I mean it's pretty obvious, right? It's happening there. But what happens if they walk across like you said and they're in their cars at the PMPA where you you said at the PMPA Plaza. So So what happens if they get to fight there? Are we going to hold accountable every business in that plaza? That that's the the worry that I have with something like this. Um how are we going to make sure that the right person is punished basically, right?

And how far should their responsibility go how far out of their door right and and I have heard in many occasions when we have spoken to the bar owners that I think that their employees are actually told don't go outside to a fight and I understand why right I get it are we now saying you have to take care of the parking lot because that is where we're at right now how are we going to to enforce something like that and what happens if there's 11 bars there and one of them is closed that day and that second strike happens are they responsible for having that officer as well which was one which now I think commissioner Leon says one is not enough so instead of having 13 there we're going to have 26 officers there I mean I know PD doesn't have 26 officers who are just going to go work there for for the extra time so it's how are we going to figure out how far they're responsible how do we figure out if the parking lot across the street becomes responsible because they're drinking in their cars across the street like you mentioned that you saw. It's just we have to be real careful on how we word it. Um I I I saw police presence. I went a Friday before you did and I told you, hey, you should go check it out, right? And I think that it was important for you to see it with your own eyes as well. I did it one week prior and what you're stating that you saw them crossing the street. I saw them crossing the street. They don't look either way and they go to their cars and the bottles do fly out of the cars. So, it's just interesting to figure out how do we make it work? How do we and this is a question for the commission, right? How are we going to hold accountable uh wings and rings I believe is on the other side. If they're open at 12:15, how do we hold them accountable for something that came from across the street and and vice versa and and going

to the sides? I mean, the bowling alley, I think it said it had some after. I don't know the times, but so they fight at the bowling alley. Does bowling alley have to do this? If they weren't at the bowling landing because it's closed. I mean, the funeral home had 30 calls or 20 calls. I'm I don't think it was the dead people calling, right? And I don't mean in a disrespectful way. What I mean is it was probably from across the street.

I mean, that's where that stabbing happened. I'm sure they didn't come out of the funeral home at 2:30 a.m. and stab each other. So, how are we just going to figure this out to really get the person who is responsible flipping the bill? So, so to answer your question with regards to the parking lots, if it's right outside the establishment's parking lot, that's part of what they're either own or leasing. And so I I understand from a liability perspective, they don't want their employees to engage if there's a fight right outside their building right on the in the parking lot for them. Um but that's where they're of course we encourage them to call the police department. Police department would then respond because at that point it's a public disturbance. But also if they had the security guards, the security guard should be able to hopefully break it up. when it comes to enforcement to have these violations um charged if you will against a particular vision uh business so that they have the two strikes and they have to have security guards. Um that's actually a question that some of the bar owners asked on Friday and what we had explained to them is it's going to have to come out through the investigation of that particular individual. Like if it's two individuals are fighting let's say they came across from Midtown bar or whatever. They go across the street to where like PMPA is and they have a fight there through the investigation as they get of course um apprehended, arrested, cited, whatever. And and they questioning of them, we will find, hey, where'd you go before? Look at the receipts. They came from a town bar. Obviously, they weren't in La Pumpa, right? So, La Pumpa wouldn't be having those strikes against them. So, it's going to be on a case- by case basis. Is it going to be difficult? Sure. Anything

any mechanism that we adopt as a city to enforce any criminal or or code compliance matter is going to have some difficulties with it. But you have to start somewhere. And so, I think on a on a case- by case basis, we will look at the facts and then determine how those violations are credited, if you will, to a particular establishment. Um and and we know that the fights are not coming from the establishments La Pampa and Wings and Rings or uh that restaurant. We're talking about the elephant in the room. We know where where this behavior where these fights are coming from and what plaza it is. And that's the one we need to take care of because it's affecting the other businesses and the surrounding area. And I would hate for other businesses to hurt because of of certain bar owners that are not uh complying. Well, I would hope they're complying with the rules and stuff like that. Uh and like I said, I'm going to iriate ir four times to come to a solution. Uh and I I just don't see anything happening. Uh so yes, you know, I I don't think the funeral home is is an an issue. Uh I I agree with Mr. Kardan, Commissioner Karan said something needs to be done. Uh and we cannot hurt the other local restaurants uh and bars uh at at this whole time that you know we're trying to cel the the the uh misbehaving of the of the citizens. Uh we cannot afford to get someone else hurt or killed uh in the city of Brazil. Not going to happen.

I have two questions. Um my first one I just want to make a clarification if you can correct me. Uh Chief, um our Basel Police Department officers are not allowed to be hired at establishments that have 51% or more of alcohol sales. That is correct, sir. I just want to make that clarification because I keep hearing it come up in the conversations. Uh my first question is, is TABC have any partnership or resources, any support mechanisms, anything like that for municipalities that are trying to enforce something like this? Well, on that I would defer to the chief. I my understanding is they have um a lack of staff. Okay.

We try to excuse me. We've tried to partner up with them on operations on varied operations and we always uh run into an issue with staffing models and staff and their availability. Yeah. My uh second question is this is a pilot that we're entertaining, right? Is that what we agreed to or No, I'm sorry. or is this a pilot program that we're considering tonight? This is Well, it's not a pilot in the sense of it expires in a year, but the commission can always bring it back if there's if there's something that's not working or something that's additionally needed. They can always bring it back.

I think that answers my question. Gotcha. Thank you. I think that answers my question. Thank you. I have a question on, you know, Commissioner Deleó brought up an interesting point about the 75 patrons per officer. I want to get the chief's perspective on that. What's the standard for, you know, for this type of ordinance or what do you in your in your expertise? So, in the in the very capacities, right, we could we could call it what it is. We could agree on that, you know, but yes, 75, especially consuming alcohol or substances, one officer would not be enough. What we're looking at though here, right, of course, it would be more than one of the establishments that would actually fall under the ordinance and there would be more officer presence, right? But perhaps two officers for for per violation, you know, we can scale it or we can take it back. We can modify as needed. But what's the capacity? Some of these bars are only 1,00 to500 square feet. So what's the capacity for 1500 square feet about 105 for that size establishment? So, so it wouldn't even rise up to two two police officers per correct

per space. And correct me if I'm wrong. Sorry, correct me. And that's when alcohol is not in the in the in the equation, right? Or or does it jump because it's a bar or alcohol serving alcohol? Does the the amount of officers increase when you have that type of uh service? It varies uh due to a seating arrangement, the outlay of of the uh the building, the establishment,

because I'm sure it's not going to be like Peter Piper pizza, you know, or chunk cheese where you have a lot of patrons in there. But I guess when you serve alcohol, I guess you because I I saw on that one video where the officer was trying to uh apprehend or or break up a fight between two young ladies and one was pretty much on the officer's back and those were two. Imagine one against 75. Not going to work. But my understanding on the ordinance is 75 people is one. You have 76, you need two because you're breaking the barrier into the second 75. Is that not the way it works? Right. It's a 75 or a refraction there. So 105 is actually two officers would be two officers.

Yeah. I'm I'm mean trying to get clarification for for everybody to understand it. Correct.

Then so currently do bars have to get a specific use permit? Is that part of their process? No ma'am. No. And but then with this new rule or changes to the UDC, you would make it so that anyone who wants to open up a bar has to go get a specific use permit.

Correct. So So that's not what's before us. We brought it up as a part two as the solution, but the recommendations that we have on that would be that if you're a particular establishment that like the ones that we're regulating here with this Midtown entertainment district ordinance, you would have to apply for SUP, go to planning and zoning, go to city commission, and like any other zoning case, right, you can add additional stipulations because it's a SUP. Um but the bare requirements that are in this ordinance would be applicable to those. There's a few more regulations that have um that have been added to the planning department's version of it and those relate more to number of violations, right? Um and those are drafted. We we'll present a workshop on that to you all. Um, but essentially like the initial draft was 15 violations, you get your CO pulled, two homicides, you get your CO pulled. Um, and as I think we were at the the downtown hearing, I think one of the comments was, well, you know, two one homicide is enough, right? So, those are the numbers that it's a draft form. Um, those are the numbers that we're working with and it might change by the time we take it to P&Z. But to answer your question, yes, if the UDC amendment that's coming in March gets approved and citywide, depending on the type of establishment you're opening, you would have to ask uh pull a SUV. Another tool that one of the bar owners had actually um mentioned um and we received some great feedback. So, thank you for meeting with us on Friday. One of the tools that I don't believe is in the UDC was um minimum distance between bars. His recollection was that there used to be a requirement that you couldn't have like, you know, x number of bars within so many feet of each

other. That might have been before my time when it was in the old zoning ordinance, but it's not in the UDC. But that could be something that is um implemented as well as part of the UDC amendment that's coming in March. Kind of like what we did with car washes. So then if you wanted to get closer then you have to go for an go in front of like the adjustments or board of adjustments or how would it work? Right. If you want to if you want to get a variance then you would have to go to the board of adjustment um the way the current UDC is worded.

Okay. Here's what I'm thinking and y'all choose to disagree with me. Um, I'm all in favor of people having the right to have their own business. And as long as you're not hurting anyone, um, it's already expensive enough and difficult enough for someone who wants to open up a bar because they have to go through the TABC stuff and all these other things to add to this to add the extra step of of doing getting a specific use permit. I don't know how how that really is effective other than um costing more money and costing more time. Um that we do need though to be more careful as to where bars are that cater to a younger crowd. Maybe control that for sure. um is just as kind of better I think is saying how do we do it so that it's targeting them because a bar that's going to cater to a fddy duddy like me is just I mean it's it's it's a burden for them and and I don't think it's fair um and as Wava was saying as a property owner I have a say so also in the tenants that I that I have and the businesses that I accept into my into my plaza. So I should bear if I'm if I'm going to be part of it then I should probably share in the cost. Um so so I agree with commissioner that should probably look into that. Well, and and the comments that you're making while the the UDC amendment for the SUP um that will be proposed um is not on the agenda tonight um planning is in the audience and they're taking notes so that they can um meet with the commission maybe individually or in a work session so they can go over some of these these these u thoughts is maybe the SUP and Daniel.

Thank you. Uh, good evening. Well, I got I got one quick question before I forget. Uh, I know TABC had closed their office in Macallen for a short well for period of time and I believe at that meeting that we had on Friday with the bar owners. I I I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but I think they reopened. Was that correct, Will? Yeah, my understanding I think they reopened in the Mallen office. Is that Does anybody know No, they haven't reopened.

Okay. Well, thank you. Now, if they haven't reopened, will uh Mr. Shouldn't DPS Well, well, actually, if it's Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, shouldn't DPS, couldn't we reach out to them as an extension for the TABC to help us uh uh use their laws to help out since we have no TABC DC representation here in the valley. Chief, do you know that?

So, our officers are certified under the Texas Beverage and Alcohol uh laws. So, that's what we're using to be able to enforce the uh the operations that we currently are running.

Okay, perfect. Thank you, sir. One more question. Um during our meeting on Friday afternoon, uh Mr. uh a friend of mine uh several months back uh gave me the idea of a nightlife mayor uh and putting them under the committee of a one city uh board so that we could get uh their representation from the the night life and and include the uh downtown area as as well as the midtown area and get a group together and uh let them form their uh nightlife mayor and I think uh that would help uh because I don't know how many of us go to bars or anything like that but uh they they could give us a more of uh an outlook of what they need on behalf of the city and the commissioners so that we could listen to them in case that we don't go to bars or we don't go out as much, but they can come to us with ideas and and uh of what we can do better. I mean, cuz I mean, we can always do better. And I think by uh our meeting, they could create uh a board and put them under the one city board uh with the city and have them have their own committee, I think would be a great idea. So, if you could please help me out uh and maybe in the next put it on the agenda or whatever we need to do to see if we could get that done uh so we could have their representation and hear them and their issues and their concerns.

Right. Thank you, sir. So, um, for the rest of the commission, when we met with the owners, um, we did go through kind of similar to Commissioner Van did last time with those that were in attendance. We went through each requirement to see if they do it already or what kind of impact it would have on them. And it it's very clear that a lot of those that were in attendance on Friday um they may not be and I don't want to be quoted because I could be wrong but they may not be the ones that are actually um causing a lot of the chaos that's happening in public asel um and a lot of what we had um put in the regulations they're already doing right and one of the things that I think when you had mentioned the nightlife mayor I had never heard of it before but I did some research on and I just Google it again. Um it it's kind of like very similar to and I think a lot of them were very excited about that because it gives them some kind of layers on between the city. Um it's very similar to our Mr. Garces who is a downtown you know manager but it would be night life and so um I'll talk to management of course it's a policy commission would have to approve it but I can talk to management and Danielle then we can come up with something.

Yes. Thank you. Yes, we do have like an advisory group for the downtown business owners. So, we could expand the scope of that. But I was here to reply to Miss Commissioner Gonski question about what does an SUP do. So, today again we are not presenting that part. But in a nutshell, what an SU is a specific use permit. Instead of getting a bar by right, which you can do today, uh it will no longer be by right. you have to go to PNC first and city commission second. And it also allows city staff to hold uh those com those owners accountable. So after a number of v violations and we're still calculating exactly the severity of those the director of planning can revoke the permit whether if otherwise it would be renewed on the every annual annually. every year. But if somebody commits a number of violations prior to that year, it can be revoked whenever that happens in the third month or the seven month because it's automatic revocation. It would all not even have to go to PNC. It's another administrative decision. So that will speed up the process and the idea is that you know the good businesses remain in business and the bad actors are held accountable. That's the whole point of the SUP.

Uh through the SUP, would you limit the number of bars or or the distance between them? Right now, we don't have a distance requirement. We looked into that at the beginning of this with the previous city manager, but both in downtown and in this area and in many other areas, they're side by side. So, two bars can be literally on uh contiguous uh suites all across the city. So we kind of uh deter uh yeah we didn't want to go down that route. We do have a distance to schools and churches uh also coming from a state law but not between bars between them because it's really hard to put a number to that.

I I I think we touched on this uh two weeks ago as well. The big issue we have is we have 13 bars in a plaza that has 25.

Forget about the parking spaces. 26 suites or 30 suites. I don't know how many there are, but 13 bars there. I think it's just too much. That is where that is where this problem is growing from. When I mean Will went there, I went there. I don't know if anybody else has seen it in the evenings. Uh after 12:00, I mean there is hundreds of people crossing that street. Uh dozens at a time and nobody's looking either way. There's not enough parking like Commissioner Deleon says. there's just a lot of underlying issues there and I I mean the bars for whatever they try to do I don't think they're going to be able to control the amount of people they have there. So I think that should be on us and we need to fix that issue as well. Um now going back to the ordinance we have right now. My understanding is we were going to try to pass something here uh soon and then try to do this citywide. Am I getting from you we can't do this citywide or what's the

No, no, no. So, so I mean in different districts if we do 12 different districts, 18 districts, 200 districts, whatever needs to be done, can we get that done?

Yes. So, Commissioner Vader had um instructed staff to of course proceed with recommendations on the SU to make it citywide, but the other thing that he requested was to create another overlay um that includes a different area. And so before we did that though, we wanted to meet with the owners um and basically discuss some of the provisions and and um that will be coming forward pretty soon. We didn't want to just jump the gun and you know create it. There's there's potential for other areas to have problems like this, but this is currently the area that's having the most problems right now. So that's why there's the urgency in addressing it right now. Now technically we'll uh through our buildings department we can limit a bar to go into a suite anywhere in the city right we can stop that if we wanted to or we cannot stop that right now

the particular bars

I mean if it's whatever I mean when I was opening a restaurant and this is a restaurant I mean I got thrilled for parking and I was the first one in the plaza and there's over 150 parking spots there And it was well there's other other people are coming in in the future. I'm well they're not here right now. Why are you limiting me? Right? That was my question 13 years ago. So for me it's just hard to understand and this has nothing to do with you then because you weren't even here. Um how did they put so many bars? How were so many cos given out in such a small area? I mean 86 parking spots for 13 bars. six six six parking spots per person or seven or whatever it may be. There's no possible way just employees alone. So, it's it's real hard for me to understand how I mean we're looking into this uh all these I mean part number two of this if we take care of how many bars we allow next to each other like Commissioner Gowski is saying and we follow the rules on parking there's no way we would be here right now but we're here right so let's fix it. Um I mean I I don't I know this is public comment. Are do you all want to hear what they want to say before we continue to talk here for another hour?

Yeah. Thank you guys. All right. Yeah. So this is a public hearing. So if there's anyone here that wishes to address the commission, please step forward and state your name.

And if you please state your name for the record.

Howdy. My name's uh Nicholas Troy Hill. Uh I work for Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits and I'm here on behalf of a couple of groups. Um I've been in contact with TABC about this and they asked me to report back off on this meeting to them. I've been speaking with their auditors, their lieutenants and their sergeants. Uh, and I'm also here on behalf of the other distributors because there are points in this ordinance that would affect us mostly with uh the open container and the uh staff not being able to drink on duty which isn't really defined. Um, let me just get to the points. Uh, and it unloaded. So, um, what I do is, you know, I work on premise consumption. So, I go in and I will speak to the buyer. The buyer may be the owner, general manager, bar manager. I get them to taste a product, um, see if they like it, get them to purchase that product, bring it on with this ordinance, that would basically prohibit me from doing that because if they're doing this for their business, they're on duty. Um, and I'm not the only one. We have Republic National Distribution Company, um, Johnson Brothers Maverick, LNF Distributors, uh, Glazers Beer and Beverage. We have all these companies doing this. Um, and this would in fact up a lot of our business here because a lot of our distributors go to these bars, restaurants trying to get to pick up their programs, do programming with them. Hey, some bro is coming up. Do you guys want to do a special with this, this, this, and that. Um, and speaking on that, um, there's already state law on whether or not staff can consume while they're on duty in the bar. Um, and that's one of the points TABC wanted me to go through is like if there's anything that gets through or passed and it's already Texas state law because TABC is just a regulatory body for alcohol beverage laws and alcohol beverage uh licenses.

Um, it's easier to just say like, oh, TABC law when it's really Texas state alcohol law and so anything that would be passed here that's already a state law uh is well double jeopardy kind of thing. If TABC were to pursue a fine of something that they do or whatever, so like, oh, they consume while they're on duty, the city finds them, TABC finds them, boom, no one gets their money, no one gets fined because it's a double jeopardy kind of thing. So, they wanted me to make sure that you guys know that if any of those u ordinances were to go through that uh you know, I'm going to let them know and they're like, "Okay, well, we'll send attorneys to speak with whoever is in charge of drafting it to make sure that doesn't happen." Um, where else was I going with this? Um, there is one more point.

Thank you. I hope TBC does come down because they haven't been here in years. So that'd be great.

Yes. Um so another point is that obviously um we're trying to determine whether or not here we're blaming the establishment, the plaza or the individual for their actions. Um part of what uh bars are supposed to be doing is that they are supposed to be reporting to TABC any incidents that happen in their bar. Um and that you know if that happens, TABC comes in like literally almost the next day or the next week to check in on that incident. um that happened to me when I was the manager of Antigga Gastrobar many years ago. I put submitted a thing when the only only ever incident that happened there. Submitted my thing on the TABC portal. Next day officer comes in ask me about it and I'm like whoa that was fast. I didn't know you guys were down here like that. Um cuz back then too the Macallen office was not operating. Um and uh to speak to another point on resources that TABC has, they do have an online portal where we can enroll bars, city commissioners, police officers for education, and they will bring someone down to educate everybody on Texas state alcohol law and uh standards and codes. Um which I thought was really cool. They also informed me that they're supposed to be in every uh law enforcement division or whatever. Like so DP uh DPS, sheriffs, constables, the police, every police department is supposed to have one at least one officer is at least a sergeant or lieutenant who's um their dedicated Texas alcohol beverage law person. And then that person should be in charge of like a small group of people who go and enforce Texas alcohol beverage law. Um and then uh I mean speaking to some of the elephants in the room as well for these violent incidents that occur. Um they occur at of course at bars that cater to these young kids, but they also cater uh occur at bars that are catering to band nights, which you know, everyone

knows that type of music, but always like the last person who was stabbed, that was a bond the night. Um whenever there's like someone discharging a gun, bond the night. Um where were those at sir? Um, the jungle, the last stabbing was that was the jungle and they had a bonite that night, I believe. But I I think that's the the the that's in that talking about this evening. Yeah, that's exactly what we're talking about.

Yeah. Um, and so what I really wanted to go into is that um, this situation has been solved in most cities already. Um, if you've ever gone to Sixth Street on Austin, if you've ever gone to Corpus Christie downtown, if you've ever gone to Houston, Fredericksburg, all these places where there's a large concentration of bars, guess what? They close off a road and they have officers just there. I It's impossible for BPD to have an officer in every one of these places. But officers aren't supposed to uh actively, you know, they're not supposed to like be there preventing people from commit. They're there to be as a deterrent really and to if you commit a crime, you know, arrest them for committing a crime. But I, you know, every time I go out into these cities, I go I there in these bars, I'm there for work or whatever, there's always officers there and there's pretty much no real violence happening except for like the random person who's we can't stop those people. We can't stop those individuals because they want to go drink and get belligerent. And unless you're going to be there with a test of some sort that doesn't exist to be like, oh, this person is going out with the intent of being a really drunk bad person, there's nothing we can really do. But what we can do is um my proposal is just from Pablo Kiso where it intersects on Morrison close that to Sunshine Sunshine Strip right right there. And then that way we have a place where it's safe for people to cross the street. And then we have officers positioned at uh key locations and there that will be should be a deterrent for most people. But the people who really want to do this kind of stuff, they're going to do it. And if we separate bars so far away, well then you end up with the minefield of bars. And then how do you re how do you protect people then? How do you protect, you know, oh, I'm a late night worker. I have to go do my

late night shift at HB. And instead of avoiding this one area of people drinking and everything, now I have to avoid all these other bars and now well there's drunk drivers everywhere instead of in this one eye area even though there shouldn't be drunk drivers. Even though there shouldn't be people drinking in their cars. Um, and it's a really good and it's a lot of cities do this because it's, you know, you concentrate these people, it's easier there to monitor, easier to keep track of everybody. And um, I mean, it's there's a reason why they all do it because if you have a bar everywhere where I have to go check on this bar, check on this bar, check on this bar, check on this bar, check on this bar, whether it's just check on them all right here. Um, I think that would be the easiest solution for everyone. Um, just close the street for Friday night, Saturday night. It's only a small section of street. That way people can safely cross. Um, and then officers are already there in key locations. We don't need, you know, 15 units there anymore. 10, 15 units. We could just have six, eight units there, two two man, eight twoman teams around. Uh it does it will cost more and there should be some sort of method for that but to have an officer at each location even with the two strikes um these bars don't even have capacity over 75 people. Um I think maybe the one with the biggest capacity is maybe like 80 in that plaza.

Have you come personally to check how many people are in those bars? How many people? Yeah. No, but I've checked their capacities. Okay. Uh do you think there's enough parking available for those 13 uh bars that we're talking about? No. Okay. So, who do you think uh finan uh finally responsible is to provide security for those that location and closing down the streets? Who do you think's uh financially responsible for that?

Um I believe it's a combination of things. uh the first part of the sick it should be the city because at the end of the day this all got approved by the city all these bars in one spot got approved by the city but at the same time you know I don't have a great answer for it but I do believe like if you create a bar district which is what this is it makes it easier to police your bars. I totally agree. But one thing you've mentioned about Corpus Christie, Austin, and all that, we're not quite there yet.

Uh we're not we don't have a police force like uh San Antonio, Austin where they have the university police uh that are helping with their police department. We're not there yet.

So, it's hard to to to compare Brownsville to those bigger cities. It's pretty much impossible right now. Uh I believe we do have a problem. Uh you are correct. We allowed those uh those bars to open. So we do or I do uh assume some responsibility and I wasn't even in office yet. But when one goes down, this whole ship goes down. and and and I am with my commissioners and my mayor when I say I'm with you, it's because I'm with you. If I go down with you, I'm going to go down. Uh so yeah, you are correct. The city did allow it. Now whether it should have been allowed, I don't believe so. Now we just got to correct the problem.

Uh but you know, I believe the the property owner of the plaza should be responsible. Uh we do hold the responsibility right now. We got to go with solutions. We cannot be comparing ourselves to Austin, San Antonio, Dallas because we're not that big yet. Uh we just need to make sure that no one gets hurt anymore. Uh one death, one stabbing, one beat up or one assault is one too many. And I think I think we're better than that. I think we could, you know, uh do better. We could always do better. Uh, I want to see all businesses succeed. I'm not here to close down anybody, but you know, at the same time is we got to be responsible. Uh, I'm responsible and, uh, I think everybody and once everybody's responsible, I think everybody will be will succeed in Brownville. That's what we want. I believe that's what everybody wants here. Uh, we don't want to hurt anybody's livelihood. I know they live uh, on this means uh, of their bars and their their food and stuff like that. So, uh, it's my responsibilityility as a District 3 commissioner to make sure everybody succeeds. Uh, and I'll reiterate, I've met with bar owners over four close to four times, three times for sure to come up with a solution because I am a working commissioner. I go to to make sure that I am seen, that I do not hide. I want to help them. I'll do anything I can for them. Uh but at the same point at the same time is I don't want to see anybody hurt, sir. I don't want to see anybody killed or run over. That's my main responsibility as a city commissioner is to take care of all citizens in the city of Brownsville, not just the select few. Everybody is important to me. Thank you, sir. I want to thank you for your comments. Uh, I do want to ask council to comment

on the double jeopardy claim and then the u staff not being able to try alcohol or taste. Right. So, tabc uh prohibits drinking to the point of intoxication. Um, I wouldn't say it's double jeopardy if there's cited if there's some individual that's drinking and to the point of toxication. So, they have a TABC violation and then the city violation. um most of the instances where there's a higher class, the higher class will stick. So, we won't prosecute for the class C if the class A or B is is um pending. Um this will be one of those commissioner Golonsky lesser included. You recall from lesser included offenses. This would be a lesser included offense. So, as far as double jeopardy, we wouldn't prosecute for both of them. Um if commission wants to mirror state law, we could uh rather than prohibit drinking while on duty, um it could be prohibit drinking to the point of intoxication, which would mirror state law. And mayor, um to the gentleman's point about tasting, they're known as straw tests. So there is a there is a big difference between a straw test, taste, and test, and consumption. We're well aware of that. So obviously evidently that would be quite evident at the time of us observing that violation. So to his point, we would not be he could still go on with his business about taste testing uh the liquor, the supply, they're known as straw tests.

I think that should be defined more likely in the just to make sure we're clear on that to address that concern. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Nicholas. Thank you, guys. Good evening. Please state your name. How long do I have? Three minutes. You don't have it.

I'm going try to make it short. Ladies and gentlemen, honorable mayor, commissioners, my name is Favre Cisneros, and I'm the chairman of the board for the Bronzo Crimestoppers. We would like to applaud you all for trying to pass this type of ordinance. It's needed. And I would like to say on behalf of us, use our services, the platforms that we have in order to put a stop to this, a deep decline on this. You're not the only one that's been driving around. Some of us have been driving around throughout the week through uh Spring Mart and Po. Us that are in authority, some type of position, we are obligated to keep our great city safe. So, we're in this together. not only your use our services to the best to keep this city safe. Right now, I'm going to talk to you not from a chairman point of view no more. I want to talk to you from a former owner of an entertainment company that used to be similar to Bar Rescue, the show that's out there, right? You got to go after the owners of the bars. Oh, there's such thing as there's a difference between bars, lounges, clubs, nightclubs, and exotic dancing locations. They all responsible and they all want you to have like a six-pack or more. In order for us to be considered sober, not over the limit, you only have like two drinks. They don't want you to have two drinks. They want you to have a six-pack or more or four, three. you are missing the point of this because I don't think it seems like you all do not have experience, you know, maybe restaurants and all this stuff, but you don't you're lacking the vision and the knowledge of what it means to run a nightclub, lunch, lounge, bar, or an exotic dancing location. And it's about the sales of alcohol. You got to go after the bar owners. And I'll reach out to some of you all. I'm

my own time away from here. If y'all need any suggestions or or ideas how to go after this, this is this this is not only about us or putting the burden on the on our great police department. This this is not only about the owners of the plaza. They know what they're doing, but also the clubs are the ones that are responsible. They're the mainly responsible people. No, don't do not lose that focus. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else that wishes to address the commission on this item?

Good evening, mayor and honorable members of the city commission. My name is Mariano Hill Jr. I am a business owner in district 3. Uh I own uh two bars there and I'm also a concerned citizen of Brazil. Well, thank you for your leadership and for prioritizing solutions to the violence impacting the Pablo Cassell Boulevard and Midtown area. Your attention to this issue reflects a genuine commitment to the safety and future of Bronzo. This challenge is not combined to one corridor. It's citywide. We must establish an ordinance that both addresses current conditions and ensures that future late night permit holders are properly vetted so Bronzo grows with intention and not regret. Over the past two years, more than 10 bars were approved within a quarter mile radius without meaningful review of the project's tied to late night permits and liquor licenses. The result has been an unprecedented rise in violence. This was preventable and it underscores a need for stronger local oversight. The solution before you is practical and reasonable. The proposed ordinances simply requires enforcement of standards that already exist under state liquor laws. By empowering the Bronzo Police Department to work in direct coordination with an understaffed TABC, we can enforce those laws locally, consistently, and effectively. This approach holds responsible owners and irresponsible business owners accountable, especially those that serve minors and cultivate a culture of negligence and greed while supporting responsible business operators who contribute positively to our city. This is not about limiting growth. It's about guiding it. With this ordinance, Roswell can protect its youth, restore public safety, and ensure development moves in the right direction. Thank you for your time and your commitment to a safer, stronger Bronz.

Thank you very much. All right. Is there anyone else that wishes to address the commission? Please step forward and state your name.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. Rick Mossel, guys. I think uh we spoke about this a couple of weeks ago and we've been trying to find a solution alto together. We all want to say for knife life. Uh I think the liability be kind of shifts here. You know when when and how we're doing it. I think that you know some of the bars that that you know that were on the slideshow that the gentleman brought up earlier. We're all in one plaza, right? And I think we all have agreed the issue is one plaza. We've talked about doing a test pilot with one plaza and I think everybody here tonight, even the plaza owners in that plaza have said, "Hey, this is a great idea. We should do it in a test in our plaza." I think again for the small business owners, it it does hurt them with the extra expense and security. If anything were to happen, it might put some of those businesses out of business. You know, I think for the long run, I think we're on the right track in getting some type of ordinance together. I don't think that we're 100% there yet. I think that a small portion of Brownsville and where the problems are at, they made some points earlier, you know, certain nights or certain music brings out the wrong crowd maybe. And the problem is that we're all, I think, in agreement that it's one plaza, but we're punishing a big part of Brownsville, you know, and we're not punishing all of Brownsville, but we are punishing a big part of Brownsville for the mistakes that are happening in one plaza, which at the very beginning it was probably bad decision from the city to allow that many bars to open. We've said that, you know, I don't want to be repetitive. It's a mistake we made. It's a mistake we got to fix. But I think it's limited to one plaza and I don't think that the whole city should pay for it. Thank you.

Thank you. There anyone else that wishes to address the commission on this item?

Hello Mayor, commissioner. Um my name is H Re Jr. I'm one of the partners at Brewers and Shan Pablo. Uh, like Rick said, we came a couple weeks ago and I agreed I agreed with you guys on on implementing this pilot. Uh, I want to applaud the the chief. He's been going in doing his rounds. I believe one minor has already been arrested. Um, that needs to continue to be done. Um, and uh, you know, we're just asking for we're just asking for some help. Uh, this gentleman said that we're all about sales, so we haven't had no sales, sir. uh money money's uh revenue's down, everything's down, competing with 13 bars. Uh and some of them are aren't doing things the right way. And I don't think that's I don't think that's just I don't think that's fair. Um and uh that's so that's the only problem that needs to be uh looked at is the minors. Uh the drinking in the parking lot. I brought that up two weeks ago as well. Um, so how how are we having sales if everybody's drinking in the parking lot? Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else that wishes to address the commission on this item? It's a little cold in here. You got AC or It's a little cold. Do you think you can put it up a little? Sure. I'll move to close public hearing, man. Second. All right. We have a motion and second to close public hearing. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those oppos say I. Eyes have it. Public hearing is now closed. Entertain a motion.

Um before I make a motion, I just wanted to thank all the bar owners that are here today. Thank uh everybody for their comments. Uh Chief, your team, um Will, your team, everybody behind this. Um I these are just some thoughts. It's not a motion yet because I I think some people may have some other thoughts after listening to them uh to the bar owners. Um yeah, I agree with you, Commissioner Dion. Um you know, that's why we're here. We can't we cannot allow uh this kind of behavior in Brownsville. I mean, period. It's it's not just about the look. It's just about we are the eighth safest city in the country and we want to remain one of the safest cities in the country. But we do want people to prosper, have good business, and socialize. We just have to do it in a responsible way like a lot of you bar owners back there are doing, and we thank you. Um, I also do believe that, um, we should test a pilot program in that plaza. I do think we need it's it's not sustainable though to just do a pilot in one plaza. We do need a citywide ordinance that is done right. Um, I do think that we have to come back with something very solid for that. We can't just start passing things left and right and start making amendments to them. This is very serious. I I would recommend to our commission and the mayor to consider doing a workshop um and do this right and come back with a very solid plan and will do something like very serious because I do believe this is a city-wide thing uh an ordinance but we do know um we had a one two strike thing I mean I think we have plenty of strikes to start a pilot program in in that plaza for now that's where a lot of our attention is going uh we are paying a lot of overtime as a city and that's not an excuse. Those are

just taxpayer dollars, but that is not a sustainable uh that's not a sustainable solution for the long term. A long-term is a very strict city ordinance that is legal, plausible, and that all business owners um also see it as protection, not as something that is a punishment. It's for a safe brown uh uh nightife. Um so those are just kind of like rambling thoughts. I do think that um that uh my final thoughts are that we just need to hold property owners accountable for their part and bar owners responsible for their part. And I think that that currently what we're toying with is exactly what Commissioner Cardana said. You don't know who's getting the two strikes. We have no clue right now, but we do know I I would think if we're called into a plaza that that property owner um should face a penalty and I'm pretty sure that that I if I own that property, I would ensure that my tenants behave. That's just my opinion. Um so those are just rambling thoughts. Um I don't necessarily know how you guys feel or what motion um the commission wants to do. I would support your initiative, uh, Commissioner. I think this conversation needs to continue to really go into depth and really consider a lot of the factors that we also heard tonight. Um, for me personally, this is no amusing matter at all. I know I see friends, people, um, they see the videos, they laugh, and they're like, "Look at that person hitting." And for me, it it's it really is is a serious matter because I take serious that we are one of the safest cities in the country and especially being on a border as a representative when we go out to Austin to Washington and we hear over the perspective the image that we have on the border. We don't want to make that image worse and I know that we as a

community are are respectful and and um can you know behave adequately. So I think um commissioner must uh commissioner um Kardanas really hit it on on the on the head when I believe the issue here is um how do we get to the root of the cause? Uh who approved the permits and allowed so I don't know if we can explore a trigger language or something in place where if we do approve a permit and they open up businesses that they never they never shared with us that we would be able to go back and pull that permit from them. And if if that's an avenue that we could explore, I think that's something that I would like to to to hear more about. Um, and my last thought is um is if there's any truth to what the gentleman came during public comment, public hearing. Uh, I wish that TABC would be more proactive than reactive and not show up when something happened and instead show up beforehand and make sure that they're a licensing they're a licensing organization by the state. They also have a responsibility to make sure that the bars are compliant, that there's no issues going on, and if so, then they also need to step up their game and make sure that the bars are held accountable. Thank you. Um, thank you, Commissioner Viel, and um, Commissioner Martinez. Those were very good words, and uh, I'm I need to make sure that we get this right. Uh we need to get a workshop going and make sure we get this right because we cannot allow this to keep on going. Uh Mr. Trinino, got a question for you. Uh it probably be my last question, I promise. Um has the city or the police department sent a letter to the owner of this plaza, Sunshine? And if so, have they responded?

And if not, can we get another letter certified to make sure that they answer uh you all notices were sent out. I don't know that the 100% certainty that the owner of the plaza received the notice. Um we'll verify that and if he did not, we'll submit on new notices. Um, I do want to ask the commission, the people that want a workshop, what what ideas or what issues do you still want to be fleshed out that haven't been addressed tonight?

Mayor, in my case, I think the workshop would be for the citywide, but I would love to start a pilot program in that plaza as of today. Um I I do believe that they even though we know they've had hundreds of strikes or dozens of strikes in the last months or or days or whatever it may be, we still start with the two strike rule. Um just to make it fair, right? Just to start I mean the true strikes are going to happen in a weekend as they did last weekend. Um so it's not a big issue, but at least it gives everybody the opportunity to talk between themselves, talk to the owners, and let them know, hey, this is coming and this is going to happen. Uh I um for the pilot program I think everything that's been mentioned I don't see anything that we really need to change and if we do we can bring that back during our workshops to get it done for the citywide thing. Now again I understand we can't do citywide but we can do 14 different districts call them whatever we need to call them and just start doing it until we get number two ready. I mean, we won't start number two till we have two to 18 till we cover the city. That would be my dream scenario here. And I hope we can get it done sooner than later. If we do workshops and people don't show up, that's not going to be our fault. Let's just put it out there.

I would think, sorry, I agree. Go ahead.

Um I would like to see mayor in in a workshop more for um Sure, we can do a some public workshops. I mean, I think we we have we have a lot of them. Um, we have had them and we will continue to have them, but I'm I was speaking more uh along the lines of city staff with the commission. Like I don't think we have sat in a workshop with the chief and our city attorney and the city manager's office to ask very basic questions that we're we're doing it out here in front and that's fine. I love doing it out here. We've done it. But now we really have to put our head together and and determine how many layout maps does is that going to take? um how do we with uh with Mr. Ryas like how how do we um in an equitable way determine how many bars could be could be in in in in a plaza in the future? How do we mix this with the UDC's that are being established? Because we we do talk about um asking uh uh you know the UDC to basically the the the new businesses that are being open. How are we protecting that? Well, I think we've answered that a little bit. we had that downtown and and and sir, you did a great job at at presenting about the new B new new ordinances, uh the new UDC codes. Um but I just think that just getting our ducks in a row so that when we do come back to the public, these questions are not unanswered right now. We we don't know. We don't know what how many districts it would take in Brownsville to cover this as a city-wide ordinance. We don't know. That's the truth. We just don't know. We we don't know how we protect uh um new new businesses from opening the same thing. Um I'm I open this plaza and what if I want the whole thing to be a bar district again? Great. Is there something we can do legally, not legally? I mean, there's there's so many questions that I have as a commissioner that I'm uncomfortable

um just tonight saying let's just go ahead and start with this this footprint. Uh, but I am comfortable, Commissioner Kardan, to start with this plaza tonight as a pilot guaranteeing the city of Brownsville and and the citizens and our bar owners that we're going to protect the bar owners, the plaza owners, but more importantly the people who are out enter getting entertained. We we we should have a strong entertainment night life in Brownsville. It just needs to be done right and and and to find that balance, but we can't just go say we're going to do it because that's where we've lost a lot of trust. And I say we the city with our with with with citizens and bar owners is that we the city has said in the past and and maybe even well, we've been here, right? I I don't know that. We need to start regaining the trust of the of the public saying that we're going to do something, but let's do it and let's do it right instead of chopping away and and and changing what we said from this week to next week. That that would be the only reason and it for me it was more of internal workshop. Commissioner,

I I I definitely agree. I would also like the UDC uh to be part of the workshop. I think it's important for us to define what a plaza is. What if it's a plaza, a large extending plaza? we shouldn't it should be distant. I don't know. We got to figure that out. So, I think that there's a lot that we have to do, but but I do think that it's time for us to start with something and we have to put a time frame on the rest of it, right? I we have to move on it sooner than later. Um I mean, I would love to have this out and rolled out in no more than 6 months. I know it sounds like a long time, but it it'll come real quick. So, something like that. You

I motion to approve. Do Mayor, do you have any I think I'll just close out saying I'm I'm ready to vote for this tonight because I think this this is common sense. I think uh I know the commission wishes we could do this citywide. we we can't do it citywide, but I think this is this addresses the majority of the areas that we are having issues and um but if this is the way the commission wants and this is the way it's going to go. So um if there are no further comments, all those in favor, please say I. Wait, what's the motion? Is there a motion? Is there a second? I make a motion. I'm sorry. Who's making a motion? I have a motion to to start with this plaza uh immediately. Can you name the plaza?

The what? Can you name the plaza? Sunshine Plaza. I think that's uh we uh start immediately. See, in the as a as a pilot

as a pilot uh and then we go from there and see how it works. We let's start let's do this right. Uh I I don't want to uh you know jump the the gun and hurt, but I think we need to do that starting now. Before we get a second, just to clarify, when you when you say this plaza, are are you still referring to the ordinance as it is written with the overlay map, but with the enforcement would be essentially starting with the plaza to making sure that they're in compliance and then moving forward to the others? Yes. Okay.

Wait, wait. What's your motion? I'm I'm confused now. I don't think he understood. Is it you're talking about like this the plaza itself versus the Midtown ordinance? Right. Right. I think they're only want to focus on the plaza. Yeah, we're only focus one plaza. You know, that's so I I don't I don't know. I can we do

we can pilot program just enforce a plaza. My my my concern from a legal perspective is if you focus on one particular plaza um you then run into eco protection claims from that plaza when there's other similly situated businesses that have similar operations. So my recommendation would not be just to focus on that one plaza. If you want to reduce the footprint of the overlay, then I would have that as part of your motion to maybe just do public and not necessarily Rubeton to the Palm Village area.

Do you mind if I try a motion now? I'd like to make a motion to start on Pablo Kell from Morrison to 802 everything on Pablo cell both sides of the road. What's facing that street public think we cover our big issue. Um I don't think we're going to a lot of other places. Uh, so that would be my motion. I'll second it.

I just want to make sure that that gives staff enough direction. Can you clarify which roads again? Pablo Cel from Morrison to the expressway. To the expressway. Yeah. So it's all you said. I'm sorry. Yeah, I was confused. into the expressway everything on public cell not the sides yet would that be sufficient will does that so public on both sides right going up to Morrison yes going to currently it cuts down

so I guess on you'll have on where it starts is the crab thing I think and surfing crab and and palenke and and it'll go all the way to CVS on the left and on the right is like some doctor's offices. I think it's old CVS is all glory. Huh? Wait, I think you went to Morrison. No, you went to Morrison. You went to the You went You did Morrison. You went to the bowling alley and and uh and Texas Bank Texas Regional. Yeah, there's a new plaza coming in. Nothing's there yet. So I just extend Carlos. Could you put the map? Go to Altonore. You have Morris. I'm just I'm just trying to figure out if Will's okay with that or he needs it.

Did you mean Alton Glor? Yes, I did. Okay. Yeah. Alton Glor. Okay. You said Morrison. I'm sorry. Alton Glor to Expressway. But only on the east side of expressway, not across. Yeah, only on the Well, public sale is only the public way. This is the map. The map shows the expressway. Oh, I'm saying. Yeah, I'm seeing publicly cell mayor just so publicly on the So up on the y'all screens is the map. Yeah, includes both sides of public. So

I think they're trying to just to look at it on a map to see if if they're okay with it. So just the businesses that that So so the pilot program mayor. Yeah. The everything the public sell touches basically like if it touches the plaza it goes into the plaza is my belief. Is that how we would consider that? Yeah. So where would you start it though on the south end at the expressway on frontage starting Ruben Mtois again Alton Glorore Alton Glorore the CVS Alton Glor where public ends or else you go straight into a Ben house surfing crab. Yeah and Balanka Grill Alton to the frontage. Okay.

The entire public is I'm going to ask our planner. Did you get that? So we can Okay. Do you know where we're at? So So if you're you pass Sunrise Mall, you're going to turn on public cell. From there we start and we finish when we hit Alton Glor. Yes sir. So my understanding, excuse me, is obviously this this plaza we're going we're including north um along Morrison Road where there's that vacant property. So that would include that. Come down south. Do you want us to include the west side of the expressway or do you want the expressway to be the boundary line? Expressway to be the boundary. Okay. Well, I don't think publicly goes to the west side. And south on the expressway,

right? So, we're going to stop at the expressway. We're going to go all the way south to include the mall. Correct. To where? To include the mall. No. No. North. Okay. I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. North of Alton. Okay. So then the south boundary would be Alton. The north boundary would be Morrison. The west boundary would be right there where that subdivision starts. And then the east boundary would be the expressway. Is that correct? No. It's just Pablo Pel. Just Pablo and everything that touches to each side of it. Got it. What is the depth of that? What would be the depth? How many feet from public cell? Whatever's touching public,

whatever touches public cell, I just I'm just trying to make it as small as we can without being too large and covering our our Does that sound good to you? Will you gonna go show them? Tino,

you have a drone. Okay, that's what he wants to do. Okay, here that artery Okay. Okay. Commission, we I believe we got the new layout and so we'll attach a new map to this.

Yes, sir. Thank you. All right. Well, that was my motion. Are we good with that, Will? Yeah. Legally, from a perspective of um enforcing this, yes, we're good with it. You're good. Okay, I second it. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those oppos say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries.

Moving on to the items for the individual consideration. Miss action u to authorize a contract with go underground LLC for the coffee road uh roadway uh drainage and utility improvements project for a cost of $4,420,2296 as budgeted. Good evening mayor and city commissioners. I'm here to present on the reconstruction of coffee road phase one which is a CIP project funded under 2026. The limits of coffee road for phase one are from Rubenthus Boulevard 802 right to by this line road. The full reconstruction, just to jog your memory, consists of full reconstruction with a storm drainage and water wastewater utility in infrastructure improvements, full carbon gutter, um an 8 to 10 foot bike and pedestrian sidewalk, and on the other side is a 5-ft sidewalk. So, we're urbanizing this. Um so, a total we went out for for bids and so we're here to propose the approval of one of the vendors. So a total of seven bids were received. Um those include Go Underground, 2GS, Earthworks, Cllor, Walsdorf, Macco, 521 company, and B2Z Builders. The lowest bidder was Go Underground LG from Haringen. They were um um they came in at 4,520,2296. Um this is the total cost of the project. All utility improvements will be reimbursed by the public browsel by the browsel public utilities board. The the construction time for this project is estimated to be one year upon notice to proceed. So um we're because PUB is

partly funding this um cost. The COB's funded cost is 3.2 um 3.3 I'm sorry 3,236,3326. BPUB's contribution is1,283,896.80 and of course they still have to present that to their board which will happen on February 9th. So with these two funding sources and the budgeting funded under this um the total cost is 4,520 and 222906 and so the um our department of course recommends approval for to award this contract to go underground construction.

Any questions or comments from the commission? Not entertain a motion. I'll move to approve. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those oppos say nay. I Thank you very much. We look forward to the construction of that room. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have the board appointments. Is action on resolution number 2026-008 to appoint or reappoint members to the airport board.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, commissioners. The Brownsville South Padre International Airport consists of seven board members for the airport advisory board. The terms are set to expire at the end of 2026 and 2027. The airport is seeking approval to appoint one position that's current currently being filled by Linda MS. Thank you so much. It's great to see you. And for my appointment will be Claudia A second. and she'll be filling an unexpired term for the record. All right, we have a motion second. Second. I second.

All right, we have a motion to second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those oppos say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, next appointment is action on resolution number 2026-004A to reactivate and appoint members to the charter review committee. I I will appoint uh Liliana Elizando. I didn't hear you. Mayor, what did you say? Liliana Elizando. Second. Second. We have a motion to second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I.

I. All those oppos say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Uh move to appoint Thomas Dearina. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. Say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Will the so my question that I had for you on the charter should I hold off and wait till we get a little more clarification?

You could appoint him and if he declines we'll just come back. All right. I move to appoint Aron Renon. Second. We have a motion second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor please say I. I. I. All those post say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Okay. We'll table it to the next meeting on February 3rd. Yes. I need uh till the next meeting. Next meeting as well. Okay. I uh I'll move to appoint Nick Tipton. Second. We have a motion. Second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All those. Can you repeat the name, please? Nick.

Nickip Tipton. Have a motion. Is that Will? Is that a problem? Oh, thank you. Nick Tipton. You're so old I can't hear you anymore. Commissioner, happy birthday. Happy birthday, Commissioner. Thank you. So, the next item is item number three, Miss Action, my resolution number 2026-003 A to appoint or reappoint members to the parks and in the recreation advisory committee.

Right. Our uh parks recreation um director is not with us tonight. Uh there is one vacancy. It'll be for the mayor to appoint. I'll move to appoint Luciana Morales. Second question in a second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. All say nay. I have a motion carries. Next appointment is on my resolution number 2026-013 to appoint or reappoint members to the historical preservation commission. Good evening honorable mayor commissioners. We have one pending appointment to be appointed by commissioner Pedro Cardinas. So these are the candidates.

Sir, I'm going to have to wait till next time. On the list that I got, Emanuel Ernnandez was actually available. I don't know why, but he is appointed. So, I'm going to wait till next meeting. Okay. Is it He is your appointee, but he's still on the paperwork. He was still he looked available. So, and I know that he's invested down downtown, so I thought he would have been a good person, but yeah. So, when I saw it right now, I've g have to wait. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Perfect. So that concludes the board appointments for this evening. Next is the executive session. May we entertain a motion? So moved. Motion. Second.

Second. All those in favor, please say I. I. Say nay. Eyes have it.

Perfect. That the city commission will enter into executive session at 8:14 on the following items. Item number one is in regards to the Texas government code section 551.071 and 072 regarding project force. Item two is 551.071 related to the canary and sesames. Item three is in pursuant to the section 551.071 and 0.072 regarding project L project PLR. Close session number four is pursuant to 551.071 uh related to to Quantero versus Brownsville. The city commission is entering into executive session. Thank you.

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He's not here anymore. Oh during Thanksgiving and Christmas and all that and then he do the challenge he lose the weight then he again and he put all the weight back on and he would lose it again that was a big percentage like that's not fair. All right. Uh thank you for joining. We're back from executive session. The time is 8:44 p.m. Are there any possible actions to consider? Action number one is related to Quantero versus Brownsville. Move to proceed as discussed. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. I have it. Motion carries. Motion carries. Item number two is consideration related to project force and authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute any uh uh necessary documents. I'll move to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute project force. Second with motion and a second. Any further discussion? Not. All those in favor, please say I. Those say nay. I eyes have it. Motion carries. And the last action item to consider is regarding project PLR. Move to proceed as discussed. Second. We have a motion and a and a second. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, please say I.

I. All those oppos say nay. Eyes have it. Motion carries. Adjournment second. Motion to adjurnn and a second. All those in favor, please say I. I. I have it. Meeting adjourned. Thank you everyone.

We are adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Good night. Thank you. That person doesn't Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.