City Council - Regular Meeting

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 26, 2026. WE WILL START OUR MEETING WITH, I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. So, Ms. Dora Barrera, Councilperson Dora Barrera is here, Councilperson Mario Morales is here, Councilperson Jake Lambert is here, Mayor Fulton Francis Flores is here, Councilperson Felix Cantu is here, and myself, Gloria Morales, Council Mayor of the City of Flores. We will start with the invocation following the presentation. Heavenly Father, we ask for your guidance and strength.

in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from Honor the Texas flag, and I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one and indivisible.

At this time, any person wishing to address the City Council on agenda or non-agenda items may be called. Speakers are requested to state their name and address for the record. Public comments are limited to five minutes per individual in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. The city council may not deliberate or take action on any matter that is not posted on the agenda. However, the council may direct staff to place the item on a future agenda.

I did have a chance to look at the information that is now on the website since the city moved to Civic Plus, I believe. Now your agendas and board packets are online. I would make a recommendation to either get the information out to the community on how to find information for upcoming meetings. A lot of people are very confused on where to locate that information and also how to navigate it on the website. I would also ask your developers to make sure that your website is applicable to mobile devices as well, because it may not load correctly to users. There are a few items that I would like to speak on. Item C, you have park improvements for a blocked park. I think it's very important that was provided allows for at least $121,000 worth of improvements for that park and only 8,000 are accounted for through the water fund. So it begs the question of where is the rest of the money coming from? What funding sources are we gonna use to ensure that these improvements can be made? And are we going to go ahead and agree on making improvements without being able to make sure it comes to fruition due to funding? In 2024, the city brought forth a grant. I don't know if anybody remembers. It was the Saber Grant. This was brought to us by then Councilwoman Marlene Keene in Green. It was from the Board of Realtors, and the city applied and received, I believe, $70,000 worth of funding. And that information went, or that funding, rather, went to different parks improvements. And so I highly recommend the city to look into that as well The closing for that grant is in October. Item 9E, it talks about the cameras. The question would be, this is an ongoing subscription and who's gonna pay for this ongoing subscription and how are we going to pay for that? Are we sure that we are allocating funds for that? One other item, item G, you have a handout in there about fee schedules. And while it's great to make sure that our fees are up to date and that users are paying for services that they are asking for, there are some questions on that form. So, throughout the form, it'll say resident, non-resident. Does that mean someone that lives in the city limits, lives in the county, that their address is Forestville, Texas 78114? Would that be the distinction? That needs to be made very clear. The event center fees on page three, And page eight do not match. So that is another area to look at and to be very clear on when you are imposing these fees on residents or consumers for our city. There's a funeral escort, $150. The question is, is that a separate fee to pay to the city on top of what the grieving families will be paying the funeral home? Or is that included in the funeral home cost as well? Thinking about during that time for families, is this 1 other thing that they have to remember to do or can you work with the local funeral homes to ensure that that fee is addressed? There also is an election fee. So this is an election fee that is in there for, and it's a non refundable fee. And I urge the city to please refer to the election advisory. A LETTER THAT WAS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, NUMBER 2025-15, WHILE THE CITY AND COUNTY CAN ENACT REASONABLE TIME PLACE METER REGULATIONS FOR ELECTION AIRING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY OUTSIDE THE 100-FOOT PERIMETER. CHARGING A FEE, ESPECIALLY A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE, IS SUBJECT TO STRICT CONSTITUTIONAL SCRUTINY regarding free speech. And so I highly advise you to really consider that because if it were me, I would not impose a fee to restrict any speech. Also, one other comment on the items in your packet, or this one in particular, the fee schedule. While I understand that we may reach out to cities and ask, what are you doing to help ensure this happens? Tell me about your processes. That's great. That's a great way of learning. That's a great start for the city to initiate something they have never done before. That document passed through several sets REVIEW THIS BEFOREHAND, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK BECAUSE THAT FORM SAYS ON THERE, CITY OF WESOCO FINANCE DEPARTMENT ONLY. WHILE WE KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER CAME FROM THE CITY OF WESOCO, SURE, THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE CITY YOU CAME FROM AND SAY, HEY, SEND ME THAT SO I CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ENACT THAT IN MY CURRENT SITUATION. MAKE SURE IT'S APPLICABLE TO OUR CITY.

I WOULD URGE TO NOT BE MISTAKEN AS A WEAKNESS OR AN INDICATION THAT I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN DOCUMENTED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE ISSUE THAT I PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL. ON MAY 30TH, THE INCIDENT THAT I'M REFERRING TO THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED TWICE HERE, I WAS ORDERED TO LEAVE FLORIDA CITY LIMITS BY FLORIDA PD AT THE INSTRUCTION So I shortly after discovered that that was in fact not true. And I do consider what happened to me to be in effect government sanctioned bullying. And I'm not saying that the police were the bullies. They were simply responding to the information that they had. My allegation is that the employee or whoever directed him to provide that false information to the police department for a lot of people, that probably would have been enough for them to permanently cease operations in Floresville. But I really don't think that you solve bullying by assuring one person that that bully would leave them alone. I've been assured repeatedly that nothing of the sort would happen to me again. I received an apology from the police department, which I can really appreciate. I brought forth a formal grievance against the city employee, as I was instructed to do, by the city manager, and I don't feel like it received any attention. I have no indication whatsoever regarding where it went, what the process was for investigating my complaint. That was early June. So July 2nd, I submitted a separate Public Information Act concerning the investigation and its outcome i followed up repeatedly and it wasn't until august 18th more than six weeks later that i finally received an acknowledgement that the city would begin processing it so we all know that the texas public information act is not a I got no written disposition as to why or if my request was combined or lawfully combined with another, but it was actually a pretty separate request. I can provide those later if you need to see them. Following up on this, I've now requested records showing how the city determines which grievances receive council consideration, as well as records concerning the approximately $25,000 increase in compensation provided to the city manager shortly after he began to join. I'm a teacher and many of my colleagues won't see a $25,000 increase in their salary over the course of a 20 year career. Taxpayers have every right to ask how that decision was justified and to receive the records explaining it. I don't think public comment or public information requests or citizens asking questions should be considered or treated like an inconvenience. I would like to know if an investigation found intentional misconduct in what happened to me, if meaningful discipline followed, and if it found no misconduct, then I'm simply asking that you release I'm asking you also please continue the live streams, continue to protect public comment, and apply consistent standards to grievances. Comply with the Public Information Act and provide documented accountability for what happened to me on May 30th. I have to excuse that I leave these meetings early. I would like to be placed on an agenda, but I have a lot of hungry mouths to feed, as I previously mentioned. It's a tremendous blessing.

Hello, my name is Jamie Lacshaw and I am a resident of Floresville in Wilson County and I'm just made to know that there's a possibility of an automatic license plate reader camera being installed in our community. The Institute for Justice has a database of ALPR abuse, and as of August 12th of this year, there have been more than 100 cases of abuse reported. Just yesterday, an 11-year member of the Texas Police Department was arrested by the Texas Rangers on two felony charges for potential misuse of these cameras. Another officer in their department was placed on administrative leave pending investigation into their misuse of the cameras as well. Unfortunately, these cameras have been proven time and time again to be accessible to the public and have no real restrictions on data retention, thereby giving abusers and people in power far too much access to innocent victims. I understand that people are concerned about crime. However, the ACLU reports that less than 1% of cars scanned by these cameras are connected to crime or any wrongdoing. Additionally, one in 10 license plates are misread by the AI program. Now, I won't scratch the surface on AI and how harmful it is to our community and our planet. That's an issue for another time. But if we are hoping to address crime in our community, this isn't it. Per the JPRM study entitled Community Engagement and Crime Reduction Strategies, we should be focusing on community revitalization to include placemaking, focusing on bolstering our small businesses, and ensuring our citizens know about our amenities like walking trails, parks, farmers markets, and so on. Lastly, if we really want to make an impact on crime, ensuring that our education system is well-funded and our students and teachers are cared for is paramount. The National Library of Medicine has a study that shows a decrease in crime as education level increases with adolescents. Depending on the study, Texas ranks between 25th and 41st in education, which quite frankly is embarrassing. We should be investing in the future, not taking away from it. I'll leave you with this quote. The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret in tyranny is in keeping them ignorant. Thank you for your time. Thank you.

Yes, this is directed towards our city manager.

What we did when we presented it to staff to establish a fee schedule we grabbed from several cities and all it was was a copy paste place it onto a spreadsheet so we would have an example of how we were going to use this we use various cities with master fee schedules and we did that because the city has never had a master fee schedule adopted by ordinance.

Did you take into account you know population tax rate annually

WELL, WE DIDN'T FOCUS ON WEST LACOTE, OKAY? LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT. IT WAS JUST ONE OF THE DIAGRAMS THAT WE USED IN TERMS OF PUTTING INFORMATION TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT CITIES CHARGE FOR THEIR SERVICES. IT WAS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. NOW, WHAT WE DID, BECAUSE THE CITY DOES NOT OR HAS NOT HAD A FORMAL LISTING OF SERVICES, it was very difficult to determine your actual revenues needed for the budget. And so what we did is, based on my experience, is we consolidated to create a master fee schedule, which is what large municipalities do, so that way it's upfront, it does help finance determining what the total revenues are, what we charge, if we are charging appropriately, and how we schedule and organize ourselves. Did you look into the legality of the election fee? That was part of something that we just grabbed from everybody and we just put a template together. A lot of these are defined by state statute. That may have been one. What we did is we gave everybody a copy. The assignment was for the department directors to go back in their departments to see what fees there were. That had to have been an election, so it went to the city secretary's office and it came back and we just

for essential liability about the freedom of speech and charging and all these different things. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Munoz. Do you have any more questions or comments?

I'm not sure who can answer this and maybe y'all can get back to us, but I do want to acknowledge public comments regarding an incident that occurred that we've heard twice before. And I just wanted to know if there's something I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE CANNOT DISCUSS IT IN OPEN SESSION OR WHAT HAVE YOU ON TRYING TO BE PROTECTIVE OF EMPLOYEES' RIGHTS, BUT I MEAN, IS THERE ANY FOLLOW-UP THAT WE CAN DO?

THROUGH OUR WORK EMAILS, THROUGH THE WEBSITE, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, THE MECHANISMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. WHEN I RECEIVE THEM, I MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE IS INCLUDED IN THOSE. IF NOT, I REPORT THEM TO THE CITY SECRETARY. AND WHAT I DO, I SAY IF IT'S A SIMPLE REPORT, BULK MAJORITY ALWAYS GO TO CITY ATTORNEY FOR REVIEW. ONCE THEY'RE SENT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE ARE ON THEIR SCHEDULE AS TO WHEN THOSE ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE INDIVIDUALS, EITHER THROUGH US OR THEIR OFFICE, AND WE FORWARD THEM BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL OR WE SIT AND WE WAIT FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION. EITHER WAY, WE RECEIVE THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WE PROCESS SUPPORTING THEM. IN THIS SPECIFIC CASE, THERE WERE TWO DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ISSUED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MR. MCKAY. OKAY. NOW, WHAT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW.

Just to chime in also, so once the, you know, I deal with this attorney as well, there's a lot of stuff that if I do get and I have, I'll get it, send it out. Just, you know, here you go. But if it is. Due to certain situations that go to the city attorney, then it has to go to the attorney general and that will take 45 days or more. They don't. As long as it's there with them, we don't attend anymore. as long as it's falling on our end, but if there's more information needed, clarification, then that's just timing. I know we...

tomorrow, whatever we're gonna do. But the thing is, now that we let someone talk, then my part is, I reached out to the city manager and asked about what Mr. McCain, an answer to whatever I'VE ASKED YOU, CITY MANAGER, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE ATTORNEY, BUT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING TO GET SOME RESPONSE TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE YOUR NUMBER, I DON'T KNOW WHATEVER, BUT THE THING, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO CALL YOU BECAUSE AT TIMES WE HAD THAT WE COULDN'T REACH OUT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND HAVE PERMISSION FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO MANY RULES CHANGE AS WE GO.

I MAY ADD JUST SOME CLARIFICATION. IT'S NOT WE DON'T PICK AND CHOOSE. IT'S ABOUT THE LAW. AND SO MR. MCCAIN'S SENSITIVE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT WE CAN'T JUST RELEASE. THE INFORMATION HAS TO BE SENT. NOW, IF SOMEONE SENDS IN A REQUEST ON THE PUBLIC CONTRACT OR ANYTHING THAT WE'VE SIGNED, THAT IS OPEN, AND I HAVE THAT ON FILE. BUT THIS INFORMATION THAT HE'S WANTING ON AN EMPLOYEE FILE PERSONNEL, THAT IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITHOUT SENDING TO THE ATTORNEY.

There's a difference between responding to a question and opening and clarifying what is already public record.

I don't want answers for him here in front of everybody. What I want, if you're asking what can we do, well, he's been calling me to see what I can do for him. And I can say, well, let me get with you and I've gotten with you. So I think it's not about, I'm saying that if we're answering, we were always taught to say, okay, well, the rules are, is, what is it?

Yeah, you would do that. Okay. Moving on, public hearing. Do I have any more comments from anyone?

From what? You want to turn them off?

It's an ad, I don't know.

My name is Andrew Latchell. I'm one of the many constituents who live here in Portugal and Worcester County who are deeply troubled knowing that there's a possibility that fixed license plate reader cameras will be installed, watching our every move. We are urging members of the Portable City Council to consider the unintended consequences of using such systems. There have been several million data hacking into their live feeds. For example, Tucker Carlson hosted Ben Jordan, a scientist and an investigative video essayist on his show in July 2026, where Mr. Jordan explained in detail how easy it was to access the exposed live feeds take pictures of license plates. They pool data over time to create a continuous pattern of life tracking that should legally require a warrant similar to Supreme Court protections placed on cell phones and GPS location data via United States v. Jones and Carpenter v. United States. If the members of the City Council are concerned with law and crime in the City of Floresville and Wilson County, human necessities, and going to our underpaid teachers. Thank you for your time. Thank you.

Do we have any more citizens coming?

I'm Tim Tating, citizen of Floresville. I had no intention of speaking, but listening to Councilmember Mario Morones and Jake Lambert have to deal with what they're having to deal with is a bit So, to be honest with you, there's been too many misstatements here that have already been made. One, that there's some actual statute out there that speaks to how far We're going to protect the employees and the personnel. The law is well established on personnel records and what can and cannot be released. You can sit at the attorney all day long. The attorney general has standing rulings on what has to be redacted. I can request every single employee's name, salary, position, how long they've been here. It's all public record. Give me all the things that must be redacted under privacy laws. I should have that in 10 business days. So let's be clear about when we're going to sit there and you say what the law is, please know the law. Please let your attorney speak. And I hope your attorney knows the law. Not about closed sessions, though, and how to correctly post them when you're dealing with grievances and complaints. You're the only city that posts a grievance or complaint based on the victim, based on the person complaining as opposed to the person complaining against. The law is also clear on that. The law is very clear that when it's a public affair. And speak to the fact that he's being grieved upon for speaking for us. We're his constituents. He hears from us. We tell him what we're concerned about. We tell him the things that we see being done that we believe are incorrect. And he inquires about them and gets grieved upon for doing it. You know, Mr. Monroe is up there doing his best to speak for the constituents that he hears from all the time. Who call him up. He's other people for the people. We know that about Mark. And he does this city proud. And so he's up there asking the hard questions, and he's probably next to get grieved upon for doing so. And that's just shameful. But at least, at least if you want to do it, post it correctly. Don't post a victim who was harassed behind a closed door by a council member and a city manager. Don't post her to the agenda and say you're going to talk about her complaint. Why does she deserve that? Say it for what it is. You're protecting the wrong people. You're sitting up there and you're speaking for the wrong people, you're protecting the wrong people, and you're bringing a political situation and the running of the city from a part of Texas that I'd rather not see here in Florida. So let's have some discernment. Let's have some actual discussion and let's quit trying to silence the council members who actually listen to the people and speak for the people. They're not doing this on their, they're doing this because they're speaking for the people. And everything I've heard tonight is trying to silence it, trying to silence the people. The gentleman who's just asking for information about a situation that he had to deal with, and he's having to jump through 10 hoops just to get answers, and we're trying to protect the employees instead of the citizens? But he's pointing out that we don't even have a fee schedule that you're in. You know, it gets all the way to here where it's asking for action, and nobody catches Are we even looking? Do we have anybody who understands that? I mean, there's two I know of and two that I trust to ask those hard questions. But the recipe, just accepting it for what it is, that's shameful.

That is not what the people voted for.

Fees and rates are just another tax. Don't make no mistake. Don't try to fool the people. You want to change the tax rate. You want to change sewer rates, water rates. Everything goes up. That's all a tax increase. Don't act like it's not. Don't try to hide it in your fee schedule. And you start charging fees for things that you've never charged before because some city that Willie Weslaco used to work at is now going to be here. Don't be that counselor.

As the attorney, can I say also that when we hire a city lawyer, the lawyer should represent all the council and not just one and say the reason why?

and then immediately got a notification from the city secretary, I think it was not an email, that you were out or something like that. But I cc'd you on the email as well. I don't know, did you receive that email? I did receive the email. Okay, so I wanted it to be an agenda item. What was wrong with it not being put on the agenda?

There was nothing wrong with it. In order for... TO APPROPRIATELY PUT THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED ON THE AGENDA AND GET IT TO THE ATTORNEY FOR ADDITIONAL REVIEW TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE WARNING RIGHT ON THE AGENDA. THAT TAKES TIME FOR THE ATTORNEY TO REVIEW, FOR US TO GET BACK TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. AND SO WHAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE DEADLINES THAT STAFF HAS TO MEET. WE HAVE TO MEET SO WE CAN PREPARE AS MUCH INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE TO REVIEW. YOUR REQUEST CAME AFTER WE HAD ALREADY SUBMITTED EVERYTHING TO THE AGENDA. was quite extensive. We wouldn't have had time to be able to post the agenda accordingly. If your request is there, it can be sent for the next meeting. So it's not that we ignored it or we didn't pay attention to it. It is there. We are aware of it. We did receive it. It will meet the agenda. It's just it didn't meet our internal deadlines in order to prepare the agenda appropriately.

Next time, do you mind just emailing me back just with what kind of said, hey, you know, hey, Jay or Councilman Lambert, you know, this is not going to meet the deadline for this week. Potentially next agenda. And then I'm super cool with that because obviously I kept looking at my emails like wondering, wondering, wondering, and saw the agenda posted and it wasn't there. So I was like, oh, he's annoying me again. But now thank you for your clarification.

Yeah, and we'll work better with the attorneys and the city secretary who handle both of the agenda. Okay, thank you.

Mayor, can I please have the floor?

public hearing we'll start our public hearing on proposed property tax rate the time is 6 34. this is notice of a public hearing on a tax increase

A tax increase of $0.445729 per $100 valuation has been proposed by the governing body of the city of Floresville. Proposed tax rate, $0.445729 per $100. No new revenue tax rate, $0.416501 per $100. Voter approved tax rate, $0.392848 per $100. The minimum rate, $0.462884 per $100. The known revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the 2025 tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax revenue for the City of Floresville from the same properties in both the 2026 tax year and the 2025 tax year. The voter approval tax rate is the highest tax rate that the City of Floresville may adopt without holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate unless the de minimis rate for the City of Floresville exceeds the voter approval rate for the City of Floresville. The de minimis rate is the rate equal to the sum of the no new revenue maintenance and operations rate for the City of Floresville, the rate that will raise $500,000, and the current debt rate for the City of Floresville. The proposed tax rate is greater than the no new revenue rate. This means that the City of Floresville is posting to increase property taxes for the 2025 tax year. The public hearing which is being held today in the city council chambers. The property tax rate is greater than the motor approval tax rate, but not greater than the de minimis rate and does not exceed the rate that allows the voters to petition for an election under section 26.075 tax code if the city of floresville adopts the proposed tax rate the city of floresville is not required to hold an election so that the voters may accept or reject the proposed tax rate and qualified voters of the city of floresville may not petition the city of floresville to require an election to be held to determine whether So for 2025, the current tax rate is 0.420729 for $100. For 2026, the proposed tax rate is 0.445729 for $100. This is an increase of 0.025 per $100, or 5.94%. The average homestead taxable value in 2025 was $224,966. For 2026, it's $225,437, which is an increase of .2094%. Taxes on the average homestead at the current tax rate are $946.50. At the proposed tax rate, or 6.16%. Total tax levy on all properties for 2025, $2,704,912. For the current, for 2026, it would be $2,894,967, the increase of $190,045, or 7.026%. Again, the tax rates were top paid by the

I understand that at times you have to look at increases in order to pay for the things that the city needs. But if you look at that screen, we're comparing Bernie, Hondo, Pleasanton, Castroville, Lockhart. And if you go through those cities, their roads are immaculate. They don't have water issues. Why? Because they probably have the funding to take care of these items. So if you're going to increase taxes, I would expect to see something in return. I would expect to see road repairs happening on a daily. I would expect to see our water be drinkable water that people don't turn their nose up at. That's all I would ask in return with a tax increase. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there counsel? Um, you know, it seems to me that, you know, every year we're going up on taxes and taxes and taxes, but, you know, with this economy, all of our citizens are feeling it. You know, they feel it at the grocery store, they feel it at the gas pump, they feel it on the water bill, they feel it on the sewer bill, they feel it on the electric bill, they feel it on the gas bill. And now we're once again going up on taxes. You know, my opinion, you know, our city's going through these so-called budget cuts, you know, and we're hiring people again and cutting people and hiring people. You know, there should be a way that our city, BUT I'M ASSUMING IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE LOADED ON TODAY. SO THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M AT.

THANK YOU. CAN WE DISCUSS THAT ALL THROUGH THE BUDGET SEASON?

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THE TAX RATES OR, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF FLORIDA, I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVEN'T HAD A MEANINGFUL INCREASE. since about six years ago. So while I do understand that rates are going up and it's hard for folks, I also understand the need that we have for our infrastructure. And please correct me if I'm wrong, but when we raise these taxes, you know, these are being used for, I wanna say our streets, our infrastructure, anything else that I'm missing that, I mean, they are in dire need of upgrade. And I don't know how else I do want to say also that even with the adjustment, even with the increase, it looks like our rate is still lower than most comparable cities, the cities that were listed up there. And that's even with the increase. So I do want to mention that. The other thing I do want to mention is I feel that the increase is responsible, it's necessary, and it's aligned with long-term financial stability. I am mindful. There's a lot of folks out there, you know, that I know that it's hard for. But, I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we have certain exemptions in place? And, you know, I'd like to see if we could put that out there maybe. you know, so that folks know where to go, where to file these exemptions and, you know, who's eligible for the exemptions. I feel a lot of folks don't know that they may be eligible for these exemptions. So, you know, that small adjustment is gonna help us maintain our streets, essential city services, you know, and, you know, will help us, you know, delay critical maintenance. So my vote would be yes. FOR YOU.

OKAY, AND ALSO, IT'S ONLY TWO AND A HALF PENNIES, RIGHT, CINDY? CORRECT.

MAYOR, CAN I HAVE IT FIRST? GO AHEAD. HOW MUCH DOES TWO AND A HALF PENNIES GOING TO COST A PERSON THAT OWNS A HOUSE OF 225,000? IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL $58 TO THEIR, SO THEIR TAX GOAL WOULD BE $1,004. OKAY, $60, BUT THEN IF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT GOES UP ON THE like capital so this is for this next fiscal year this is what they'll be paying so to me i have a problem you know to where but we just we're not like you know we can't afford something i know we want everything for for we want everything i mean we wanted the best but this little town grew up with dirt roads when i grew up here and you know and then we go a long ways but at the same time All we're doing is, and don't get me wrong, and I won't say something wrong about the kids and whatever, we need all these parks, we need everything to keep it going so all these children stay busy naked. I get that. But the person that's paying the taxes out there For me, it's fine to go up. We gotta grow. I don't have a father growing. It's just like when we went up on that, what I did, and I won't do it again, but we went up on that water rate. It was four more million dollars. That's what they say, four million dollars with the waste of the water. You know, four million. Now, don't tell me I think you say 500,000 and we're about to get more.

Did the highest tax rate, which we're not looking at the rules with the rules on here. So if you did. The voter approval rate would be point 39. our current tax rate is point 42. There's a no new revenue rate of 0.4165. But, and then there's a minimum, which would be the highest that we can go. That would not.

GOING UP. EVERY TIME WE GO UP, WE'RE GOING UP. AND FOR WHAT, YOU KNOW? WE'RE DOING BUDGET CUTS. THE CITY OF AMERICA GOT HERE, WE'RE DOING BUDGET CUTS. AND THEN WE HIRED TWO OR THREE MORE EMPLOYEES OR FIVE OR SIX MORE EMPLOYEES. WHAT WAS THE CUT? WHERE DID THE CUT COME FROM? I MEAN, WE MIGHT NEED THESE EMPLOYEES, YEAH. BUT THE MONEY THEY GET, IT'S LIKE THE Well, the citizens ain't going to come around and buy a taco and say, we're not. And that's what we're doing. We're doing this to the people that like, you know, money, money, money, money. Money's hard to come by for an elderly person that's on a fixed income. You know, people that work, get to work, whatever. I'm talking about grandma, grandpa's out there. That $25 he took from the trash, he took $25 from the water, he took $25 from the taxes, he took... That's a lot of money. And all at one time they say, yeah, we haven't raised taxes. We haven't, we haven't done. The time is running right. I mean, I understand that we need to build up. Like I say, the more, all I want to say is the more we have, the more we spend. Now, if we want to keep it there and say, okay, we say we're supposed to have so much money, a three month reserve. I guarantee we don't have a three month reserve, but we keep buying, buying, buying. Sometimes we got to say, We want a new something, you know, a new house. Gotta live there. But to me, I'm gonna, like I say, we gotta think about the citizens out there. I mean, I'm sorry, I mean, I talk a lot, and I talk, and I say this, and I talk a lot, but when are we gonna pay attention to the people out there? You know, everybody, hey, we're gonna do this, we're gonna do that. And the more money we find, or just buy this. Or just go get a bid for this. Slow it down a little bit. We're gonna get on the right, not knowing how we got there. You know, and we keep saying, too, that, oh, we just got it in the budget. This, this book should have been given to me for the budget, but no, if I dig into it, and I say, oh, no, you didn't dig, we're going to go through it, yeah, we can go through it, but it's not the same. Just because I didn't come to the budget meeting doesn't mean I shouldn't get the budget paperwork. I've come to a couple of them, and my thing is, just because all we talk put it out there on a newsletter or whatever, saying we're gonna go up on these rates, we're gonna keep them more informed. Now it's harder, because we convenient the meetings to a certain councilman knowing that we have meetings every Thursday for years and years and years. People go to church on Wednesdays, prayer and everything, but we move it. You know, stuff like that. We wanna keep the citizens quiet and cover everything up. Right here, we'll get to that item in a little bit, but there's an item here that's got, on the rates, like a hundred changes, you know, and we're going to put it just because, okay, we'll sneak it in there. I'm not like that, you know, and we need to keep the citizens informed about everything that's going on. I'm sorry that I take it at heart. I come here and I say, man, I'm going to drop data on my public oppression because I take it at heart regardless.

And like I said, hey, people out there, y'all want to run, let's go.

I want the younger generation to come get it. But who wants it? They don't want to be on boards. They resign on boards because you tell them what to do. They'll think for themselves.

Thank you.

I have a question. Do we have to vote on that tax rate increase today?

Yeah, it is on the agenda. If we don't, then I will need to repost. Do we have another question?

I JUST SAY BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE RATE INCREASE FOR THE WATER IN THE SEWER, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE CITIZENS.

I THINK, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE FIRST BILL, RIGHT?

THAT WILL BE THE BILL WE GET THAT WILL BE DUE OCTOBER 10, IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND. RIGHT. SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW THE EFFECT YET OF THE WATER IN THE SEWER RATES. I MEAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE If we could see how that's going to affect the citizens, I agree. I mean, I wouldn't want to overburden them.

would actually pay to connect to the water and sewer. You can even have roadway in factories because our roads are atrocious, as you know. People that wanted to bring developments here and offered to do pits, a public improvement district, and we have a mayor that doesn't know the difference between a public improvement district and a planned development district. That was a problem. pays for those improvements, pays for those things, and the difference in the taxes as they go up as it gets developed. But we don't do any of that here. We raise the taxes so that we all have to subsidize new development when it comes in. We all pay for the improvements that go to connect new development because we don't do it as other cities do it. And that's backwards. And we need to think outside the box, I guess, for Floresville and look at other funding mechanisms instead of just and raising taxes through the tax rate. But also, you shouldn't be adopting a tax rate until you've adopted a budget. That's in the statute.

I just want to say that I'm glad we have new lawyers because now they're looking into all our policies and all our ordinances. Thank you. Next, public comments? Is that it?

That was pretty rude. That comment you just made.

No, not as rude as what you said. That was really a rational order. No, no. That really was.

No, I'm just saying that I'm glad that we have these orders because now she represents all of us. Right, but you're taking a target of the citizen. Well, he's targeting a day or two. He's targeting me, so it's okay to get me a target.

Hi, Jamie from Florida again. So the thing is your citizens are struggling to eat. The United Methodist Church puts on their food pantry and this summer they've had over 100 families in the county. And you're talking about doing a increase of only $60 on 225,000, but from what I've seen when I've searched for houses here when I was moving back to my hometown, 225 000 was not what i was seeing and for 225 000 you could maybe get a shack so most likely the people that are going to be affected by this are having houses that are being assessed at a higher value and you're going to tell them that they oh 60 is nothing 60 can pay for groceries 60 can pay for gas in your truck 60 can put food on the table for your children AND ALSO HAVE SOME DECORUM, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

MOVING ON, THIS MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED AT 6.54, PUBLIC HEARING. MOVING ON TO PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION, DRAFT BUDGET, FINANCE

In your binders, did you have the compiled budget that was presented to you throughout the budget workshops? I did want to give an overview, but I did give summary explanations for each fund on what was total for each fund. But I'm going to go over that now. or raise more revenue from property taxes in last year's budget by an amount of $190,045, which is 7.026% increase from last year's budget. The property tax rate to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $38,345. So the proposed budget summary for the water fund is $3,797,050. Wastewater Fund, $2,862,850. The General Fund, $7,770,618. The Refuse Fund, $1,877,000. Cemetery Fund, $20,000. Hotel Motel Tax, $275,000. Street Maintenance Tax Fund, $700,271. The Recreational Fee Fund, $1,109,160. 4A fund, $1,186,009. 4B FEDC fund, $1,506,542. And then debt service funds, $2,357,275 for a total of $23,461,775. In expenditures, total expenditures would be $22,256,900. For revenue, excess of expenditures of $1,132,875. For the fiscal year 2027 proposed tax rate, the maintenance and operation is 0.228765 per $100. The interest in sinking is 0.21 for a total tax rate of 0.445729 for $100. So based on the proposed budget, staff is seeking council guidance on the use of the revenues exceeding the expenditures. So there's several capital projects are currently planned to be funded through the city's bond issuance. Staff is seeking direction on whether council would prefer to use the available revenues to fund identified priority capital projects or proceed with the current projects through the bond issuances that we currently have and allow revenues exceeding expenditures to increase the city's fund reserve balance. I'd also like to put out there also about the 1.3 million due to the street maintenance tax from the general fund. As discussed in budget meetings, the external auditor addressed the issuance of 1.3 million being repaid to the street maintenance tax fund that had been transferred since 2019. The 2026-2027 budget does not currently provide for repayment or address this amount. So just looking for also guidance on that. My ask is just that you have the book now and you can just review that. If you need the capital improvement schedules that were provided to you for additional, I can email them to you.

7B, HEALTH INSURANCE AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THIS WAS A REQUEST EARLY ON IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, SEVERAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING INSURANCE AND OUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PROGRAM. HISTORICALLY WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE IS THEY'VE USED ONE SINGLE VENDOR TO GO OUT AND PROCURE INDIVIDUALLY YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM AND YOUR EMPLOYEE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS. AND THIS WAS DONE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. WHEN YOU DO THIS, IT DOESN'T ñ YOU PAY A HIGHER PREMIUM IF YOU GO YEAR TO YEAR INDIVIDUALLY. Versus going with a base three-year contract with two linear renewals at your option to try to go out there and find a better rate. What happens is a lot of these insurance companies, because they don't have you locked into a long-term agreement, your rates tend to be a little bit higher versus something with an agreement that is a little bit more scattered out. Typically, we don't like to go past five years in an agreement. Also, options also gives, we like to give those to council that exercise additional options of one year. So we went out and looked for firms that could best represent us, and basically what we wanted, what we proposed was to try to get a three-year base contract with two one-year renewal options at council's option. Typically in the past, what the city has done is they've paid market rates off of those broker fees, which can range from 3% up to 8%. And the thing you have to understand is a broker fee not only gets paid a percentage of your total premium, but they also get paid by the insurance company themselves. So if they go out of market rates, obviously they're going to be more profitable. And considering the size of your staff, it made more sense for us to cap it at 3%. So we went out there and we found a firm, Mr. Patton, THAT PLACE IN YOUR BUDGET. IT IS A VERY GOOD PACKAGE, VERY BENEFICIAL PACKAGE, AND THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL COST EVENINGS TO THE CITY. BUT AT THIS POINT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. ROBERTSON.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. MUNOZ AND MS. STERN AND MS. TRAIL FOR YOUR DIRECTION AND PARTNERSHIP IN THIS. AS YOU MENTIONED, WE LOOKED AT A MULTI-YEAR PLAN, THREE YEARS WITH THE OPTIONS AND YEARS FOUR AND FIVE. JUST TO COVER SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CURRENT PLAN AND WHAT WAS SET TO GO INTO PLACE VERSUS SOME OF THE CHANGES WE MADE. INSTEAD OF ONE HEALTH CARE OPTION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AT ALL PAY RATES, THEY NOW HAVE FIVE OPTIONS. EACH EMPLOYEE WILL PICK THE ONE THAT BEST SUITS THEIR SITUATION AND THEIR FAMILY. THEY WILL ALL BE THROUGH BLUE CROSS, BLUE SHIELD, THIS TIME AS THEY DID HAVE THE BEST RATES. ALSO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT BLUE CROSS, BLUE SHIELD HAVING A WELL FUNDED OPTION IN WHICH POTENTIAL WILL LOWER COSTS AND EVEN POTENTIAL if it's available to you. And we will be shopping it every year. So when I'm married to Blue Cross Blue Shield, we'll certainly shop it every year to find the best rates and the best coverage. Knowing the cheapest isn't always best. Sometimes you get what you pay for. All the current benefits will remain in place with either better benefits through other carriers, Let me give you a couple examples. Between just health insurance and disability, which we did on long-term care or long-term disability, which wasn't available this past benefit year, the city will save an average of about $125 per employee per month. We estimate, based on the current participation, it should be about $102,000 a year in savings to the city, just in those two categories. Even with adding long-term disability, we're also adding a health savings plan, Again, me and my partners will be here in the city over the next two weeks to educate in groups, whether it's here or at the police station, in an attempt to reach all the employees to cover all the new benefits and all the new options, as I'm sure there will be many questions. That's all I have for you. Any questions? Yes, where are you located at?

About 30 minutes north in East San Antonio. And Mr. Muñoz, so we really we already got we're gonna get them on that part did we compare from what we had i mean i know you're saying i've compared but what i'm saying is just talk to i won't say his name but uh the insurance

THE CITY'S EXPENDITURE PER EMPLOYEE WILL BE LOWERED BY ABOUT $125 COMPARED TO WHAT IT WOULD BE IF THE CURRENT PLANS FOR THE CURRENT PROGRAM CONTINUED, WHICH WAS ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE AN INCREASE OF $95 BY ITSELF.

BUT DID WE TALK TO THE CURRENT ONE TO SEE IF HE WOULD MAYBE GIVE US A BETTER

did approach, and when we started back in March, I believe we met the first time back in March, we asked for the bid package, and we asked for the multi-year agreement, and we asked for the market rate, that it no longer be a market rate, that the broker fee be tapped at 3% to try to get that bid package. We never received it. And so we were, because this takes a long time to go out and get the best plan for the employees, we went on ahead and searched for other firms to do this.

I just want to double check, because he, to me, was local. We can help the locals.

Sir, I've got a question. What's your firm's name? I'm sorry if I missed it. PWR Strategies. PWR Strategies. Okay, thank you.

Thank you so much. Moving on. Rehabilitation for Watts Park.

All righty. Good afternoon, Madam Mayor, City Council. This is just a discussion to talk about American Legion Park, known as Watts Park. We have seen some damage, some repairs, some issues out there. Wanted to bring it to the attention of our team here and our council and kind of discuss the things that have been seen. And so what you have before you today is a presentation on what is going on in Palo Alto. So, in today's presentation, you're gonna see what amenities and costs look like. Those amenities and costs are going to be restroom-able locations, tennis court, basketball court, resurfacing, water fountain installation, and then playground installation as well.

These are just some of the few amenities of this park

So first and foremost, in July of 2026, the restroom was vandalized. It resulted in extreme significant damage in there and the restroom had had some issues on the inside with plumbing. It had been locked. The day that it was found, somebody had broken the locks off of the restroom and went in and just, we just found an extreme amount of damage within the facility that needed to now address the plumbing, the lighting, the fixtures, ventilation, the flooring, the walls. I mean, the damage was pretty extensive and it just resulted in what might have just been one plumbing issue kind of that were caused within the restroom. We did go out for questions. So then now we move on to tennis courts and basketball court resurfacing. You know, this is the time that we get you some revitalization of the existing courts or possibly adding in some new amenities by resurfacing the tennis courts and possibly having some pickleball courts would be an estimated $38,000. And if you go to the next slide, this is what our current state is. So, basketball court was vandalized about a year ago, I believe. There was some graffiti done on the floor. And so, as you see, there's a big green square. That was because paint had to be done to cover up the graffiti. Backboards are not in the greatest shape. I went out there one day and I talked to some kids that were playing and said, hey, if I could fix anything in this park, what would you want? We want single hoops. We want better courts. We want to be able to see it. We want the restroom. We want a water fountain. And it was like within five minutes, they kind of named everything that was on this list because that was something that, as they're out there and they're constantly using it. And so if you go to the next slide, this was a potential court resurfacing. So taking one of the two courts and using it for resurfacing and then utilizing the other transport So this is already, we're in the works, and that's also in today's packet. So we are looking to have, if the restrooms can be done, aside from restrooms, we do need a water fountain out there. So we have already identified funding for this, which is through the water fund. Estimated cost is about $8,000. And that is because that cost may seem a little high, but because we're able to get so many with a future item on the agenda that is approved. This is kind of an example of where that water comes in. Next is a playground installation. There's no playground in here at all. There's nothing for any ages two to 12 to play out there. And that's something that we see activity within the parks The goal would be more activity, less vandalism. That is something that we would want to enhance in the park. There was a merry-go-round that was significant damage to the merry-go-round that resulted in us having to have that removed. So this playground installation would also include bringing back the merry-go-round, safer, more updated, concrete and just completely damaged it. So definitely need to get that removed, get that demoed, and possibly add in some new tables out there would be very, very nice. Those tables run about 8,000 to 10,000 dollars, just depending on where we get them from. We always try to go to the best vendor, but they're very costly. So lastly, you see the overview. I've said a couple of numbers, so I'm gonna reiterate what we're looking at. Restroom rehabilitation, about $35,000. We have not identified any funding for this. To get this done, at the very least, you're looking about six weeks for that rehabilitation. Tennis court and basketball court, we started seeing about $38,000. No funding has been identified for this. That is about six to 12 weeks. is about the average of what we're going to be looking at because that cost was able to come down because we have, in order to order more than what one singular water fountain installation would have been. The water fund would be paying for this and that's about 12 weeks of production time and installation. So it does take a little bit to get that done. And then adding in the place system is about $40,000. No funding has been identified and we are looking for 10 to 12 weeks of installation time to be able to get that. So for a full revitalization of Watts Park, you're looking at about $125,000. The only thing I just come to you today is just to look at our park and to see what our community is working in. You know, this park is falling apart. It's in the center of our town. There's no restroom. There's no water. You know, the kids are doing with what they have and

and it starts with foundation. A couple of things that I wanted to ask you was, you know, I saw a lot of the graffiti, and I saw a lot of the damage to the restrooms, and it's sad, right? But what is going to be the biggest upkeep maintenance-wise? How are we going to be able to efficiently be able to make sure that this doesn't happen again?

Families will vandalize. of our parks. Every day, we are now having a team start their morning to ensure that every park is being vetted. And you know, as we've implemented this, documentation goes a long way. As we've started to do this, we've started to document daily logs of what they're going out there and they're seeing. If we're seeing that we can go and clean the park, and by eight o'clock the next day, that park is being vandalized, and that's telling me that from the hour of four o'clock in the afternoon to eight a.m. in the morning, somebody is in that specific spot, and I can now work better with our community, our community members, our own programming, our PT, is happening a little bit more. Our daily logs, our consistency of helping ourselves and saying, hey, let's go ahead and make sure that we're out there every day. Let's check. Let's make sure we're not letting days go by where we're not out there to make sure they don't see anybody. You don't see nobody, you think nobody's going to be there to watch. So unfortunately, they're just consistently doing those family walks over and over.

So we have two parts here in the city of Florida. What makes you choose Watts over Cobb Park?

I think Watts right now is, No restrooms, no water fountain. I think you've seen the most damage the other day when the tree fell. I mean, we walked out there and I was like, this hair going around has to go, unfortunately. It hurts me to take away another amenity from the kids, but it's not a safe amenity to keep there for the kids. So you're having to pick and choose. Lacan Park's actually, that's the park you were mentioning, right? mid-october we'll have the installation yet so already focused on that and making sure that was done i think that was done within my first two three weeks here before you want to get that in front of you guys but now i don't want to put this on the back burner and say the restrooms are not important the water fountain is not important we've got to kind of figure out how we can come to a common place and get that done so obviously you know implementing uh two big wall courts uh tennis court and

a lot of money, right? You know, what is y'all's plan? Y'all have a plan to ensure that a lot of the maintenance on the tennis, you know, on the tennis courts, the tennis nets, you know, I drive by the tennis nets, it's broken, right? That's something I noticed. That's something our citizens noticed. you know, the tennis courts are gonna be heavily used. You know, is there a way, you know, are y'all gonna limit the hours that they're being able to be used? You know, how is this, how are we gonna be able to take this investment and prolong it as long as possible?

So, maintenance on it, first and foremost, right now when you go out there and you see broken tennis court, you see, you know, pieces of equipment that need to be done, you can go out there, I can see, the reason why they're resurfacing is because of the chunks of pieces that are missing within them. and they're hitting and you can see where the stump is. I think as time goes on, I think that piece of it is one, ensuring that we're watching it, because I feel like that has been something that's out there and people just know it's there, but until you get off the car and you go and do a walk around, you're able to actually walk up and say, wow, I can see the chips in the ground. But I think activity is a big piece of it. What programming can we do to stay active? What can we do and collaborate with our senior citizens and possibly come out here and show them how to make this work? Get them activated into the park. The park gets activated, the community gets invested. And that's what we need.

Thank you. Thank you.

Dr. Gonzalez, thank you for putting this together. It's a great picture of the dire need that Watts Park is just in need of, right?

because it sounds like this was vandalized.

It's costing us a lot of money. Are we doing anything to recoup those dollars, or are we working with our police department in any way to recoup that money? So I'll answer two questions.

So when the damage happened, we actually did make a police report immediately, and I will say that working with our citizens, that was one of the first things that came to me. They said, you know, when damage happens, we kind of just fix it, and we're not docking it to It was extremely important when we saw that to begin the documentation process of showing this is extensive damage. Somebody was not watching or giving whatever they wanted. Eventually, it went out on social media and those that were believed to have done it were apparently found. And so there's already judicial process happening there that I'm not involved with, but from my understanding, there's already a process on there.

Okay, got it. And then the other question I wanted to ask What about grants? Do we qualify for any grants? I know there was mention of a grant earlier today, so are there any grants that we could utilize or apply for that could go toward this? Because I agree with Councilman Lambert, it's a lot of money.

Yeah, so TPWD, I mean, they have grant openings consistently. We would just, you know, we just finished up one grant application that had opened and closed, and so it would be going back and looking and seeing what is it. If this is from direction of council, this is priority, let's see where we can find the money, then by all means, I'll go out and try to find wherever I can find the money. USTA, the tennis association, they have funding, but in order to utilize that funding, we can't have pickleball. So they'll go and do the tennis court, but you're only gonna get tennis, and you're not gonna get pickleball. So we have to kind of make those decisions. Getting the free money is great, but we're gonna lose that momentum of new activities within the park and different activation possibilities within the park. So we have some opportunities out there, but anything that's open, I'm more than willing and happy to really put ourselves out there and see what we can do. This was a starting point to see what exactly is the dollar figure.

Got it. Thank you for that. Watts is in the middle of our turning town and so I do cringe that that's the park that we have in the middle of town you know so I do see the importance of recruitment there and hopefully we you know come together and can you know come up with some ideas and we have to be creative but thank you for putting this together thank you Ms. Gonzalez also I was going to ask

Are we still that is still being discussed with the agency and helping with that? I understand that project they were going to install our assistant installing cameras. that were gonna be monitored at the new police station, but they were gonna be fixed cameras towards the restrooms. And so what we requested was to look at 360 cameras to give us an all around look, aerial look of the park in case any incident or anything else happens at the park. Also to assist our police department monitor a little bit better versus just a one angle shot of the park. uh Phelps um through their group or I think they're working with RIT group as well uh they were going to look at the cost of those 360 cameras versus what they already had in the budget and they were going to get back to us for the cost difference and of course we would be responsible for that cost difference so that's where the project's currently at thank you moving on to um Good evening, Mayor, members of the council. Arbor Fields was here a couple of meetings ago and we had considerable questions for Arbor Fields with their development north on 181. And so what we did is we held a meeting, the attorney, myself, ARBOR FIELDS AND THEIR ATTORNEY AND WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL OF THE OPTIONS AND QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAD. A LOT OF THEM CENTERED AROUND RIVER BEND AND ISSUES THAT WE HAD IN RIVER BEND WITH THOSE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AS WELL AS THE AGREEMENTS THEMSELVES. THEY ARE ALSO ASKING WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT'S IN PLACE FOR THAT FOUR-FACE-UP DIVISION, THEY ALSO WANT TO COME IN AND PETITION THE CITY TO MAKE IT A MUTT, WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS THAN IN THE CITY LIMITS. SO IT RAISED ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR US. SO WE HELD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND WE ASKED FOR CERTAIN CONCESSIONS. IF THEY WANT US TO CONSIDER OUR MUD, AND WE PRIMARILY ASKED THEM, WE'LL OPEN UP on several aspects. They agreed to that. We discussed several issues in terms of the width of the streets. We also looked at an additional arterial thoroughfare out of the subdivision versus just an emergency exit, where that would be located. We looked at other infrastructure costs. We looked at various aspects. They have come back with a response. And I'm not going to get into details with the executive session on those details because it does have financial impact to us for the development as well. The MUD would also be an additional tax to those individuals in that subdivision. With the assessed development agreement already, it's already a tax On what you already have is property tax. So essentially, you're adding another tax with the money on top of that. And so those are part of the discussions that we're going to have with you. Adrian is here with our home to get any additional questions.

Good evening. I appreciate you considering this request is. municipal utility district in my district on this track. As Mr. Munoz suggested, we kind of threw it out there to get the city's feedback on kind of what the city would want in return. We kind of see that taking the form of a development agreement. We'll have certain obligations and then in response the city One of the intents is that this is just a tax within the tract. This is only on future residents. There is no impact to the city's tax base existing. There's no impact to the city's tax base as far as future either because we're not taking a TERS or that it's gonna be baked into the tax rolls versus an assessment just once a year. So that will be part of the mortgage payment or whatever. Yeah, I'm open to any questions. Wouldn't we still have to treat and transport the waste? The sewer is part of the city's responsibilities for inside city limits. for it to go to the lift station that's on site.

Okay, thank you so much. Moving on to Texas Recreation and Parks Society.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. What you have before you is just a letter notating that the City of Floresville was selected to host the Texas Recreation and Parks Society South Region Conference. So what does that mean? parks and recreation as a whole will be having a national national kind of governing body which is a national recreation and park society you break that down into statewide so as far as the texas recreation park society and you break that down even further because texas is so large you have multiple regions and specifically here or excuse me, of the TRAPS group, we are part of the south region. So you're looking pretty much San Antonio all the way down to the RGV. And so there's multiple cities within that space. And what happens is they do ask for a one-day conference and they host it at different areas. They host it in San Antonio, they host it at Botanical Garden, they host it down in Beagle, they host it in multiple spaces. And so because of that, they're looking for somewhere to host. And so this year we had a conversation as a new entity, as a new group, and let them know that we do have the Floresville Event Center. It is available for use, and it would be a one-day conference in the month of October. I believe that we're narrowing down that date specifically so we can verify when that would be. But it's usually about 80 to 100 people that come up, Parks and Recreation professionals from South Region. You also have Central Region, which is gonna be your San Marcos, New Braunfels, Seguin, that area coming as well, if they choose to do so. Sometimes they don't make it to theirs in their region, so they still try to get involved in a different area. So, wanted to just let you guys know that this will be coming forward. We're excited to host them, and I look forward to this relationship as a new Parks and Recreation.

Thank you. Arameth, updates?

Good evening Mayor and Council. So as you all know and we all hear, there is a lot of talk and comments about our live streaming and meeting. Updates I just want to go back. I've actually and we do have council members here that I've been working on this project probably since 2023. This is not an overnight. program system that I just started and decided to take off and keep transparency bad between us. I mean, this is not something that I intentionally did, but just a quick, I wrote a speech down. I just want to give everyone a quick update and a little background on our live streaming and where we're going with it. I went back through all of our old agendas and from what I found, Facebook Live started in March 2020 during COVID and Zoom was added in April so the public could participate while meetings were closed. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the process changed several times depending on whether meetings were open or closed. By 2022, we were using Zoom and live streaming again, and it appears that we just simply continued that practice. So throughout that time, While I was looking for agendas, I have not found an ordinance resolution or city policy that officially made Facebook live or zoom a requirement. Also in 2023. The reason why I updated and looked into this cameras TVs is because we did have council members that did want to zoom. and we could not offer that option because our equipment was so outdated. I have previous emails from attorneys that it was not updated and not legal or whatever the attorney would like to use that we needed to update before we could start suing officially or have them counted present. So then I also saw a Facebook comment mentioning that all the equipment that the city has invested in And yes, that is correct. That's actually part of why I'm making this transition. We have invested in equipment and software, including Civic Clerk, and I want to utilize what we're paying for instead of relying mainly on social media accounts. We officially went fully live with civic clerk on August 8th. So this is a very new transition. Now that civic clerk is fully up and running. I'm still working with our current website company to get everything properly added and connected to our city website. So when all the. Talks were that we were not being transparent and stuff. I was actually in the middle of transitioning everything over, which I'm still doing and everything popped up because I was already in the works and it is also a mobile friendly, but there's two different systems and we're still going to get a new website. So that website is also another project that I'm working on. So before COVID, our meeting records were primarily auto recording stored on USB drives. now that we're moving toward having our agendas, packets, attachments, minutes, and meeting videos together in one official location. So we've also, there's been talks, I've mentioned this, we're gonna move to electronic council packets. I do have laptops, most of them have been provided, and I've let council know that we're gonna be moving away from paper packets. Again, I know that's a process, and that's something that we all will work on together. There are still going to be some changes along the way. I'm working, like I said, again with our current website company now, and council has already approved the new city website that is expected to go live in January. So some of what we're doing now is also preparing for this next transition. This isn't about taking away information from the public. It's about making our processes more modern and using the equipment and software we've invested in. And keeping our meeting information in a more consistent and reliable place. And just if council would like to establish a formal life streaming policy going forward, we can always bring that back for discussion and direction. I do have and I will attach to the. A PORTAL OF OUR WEBSITE, ALL THE AGENDA MINUTES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED THAT I FOUND. I ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST WILL ATTACH MY EMAIL WHERE IT SAYS CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LAUNCH OF YOUR AGENDA MEETING MANAGEMENT PROJECT FOR TX AND IT HAS THAT DATE. I'M ALSO WORKING ON, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON TODAY WHERE I'M GOING TO ATTACH OUR ZOOM AND IT WILL BE LIVE EVENTUALLY. I'M HOPING THIS NEXT MEETING ON OUR CITY WEBSITE AND EVERYONE CAN, YOU KNOW, SEE IT LIVE THERE. ANY QUESTIONS?

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO NEXT MEETING I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT TO WHERE THERE'S A RESOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO STREAM ON FACEBOOK. AS IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, MORE EDUCATED ON OUR CITY WEBSITE, BECAUSE I WENT ON PERSONALLY. I KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO DO.

I DID POSTING ON FACEBOOK JUST TO FEEL, I MEAN, I CAN DO town hall meeting come do a training with city secretary i mean there's two tasks where it did say agenda minutes and eating right on top is the first one and it's it's right there and then it says all the other stuff there's a tab about our state if you're looking for minutes before this day please click here but i definitely can i mean i don't know where to post or not post i mean there's comments flying everywhere so i'm just trying to It is hard because I can post that and then I will have another training on a new website. That will be coming in January as well. So I mean I can do both.

Thank you, Ms. Edmond. Item eight, consent agenda. All items listed below are considered to be routine by the city council and will be connected with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of the items unless a council member requests. In which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence. Approval of the consent agenda authorizes the city manager EACH ITEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION. ITEM E, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE REGULAR MINUTES FOR AUGUST 12, 2026.

on 9g on the minute i mean 8f it says 8f it says uh councilman member marion

I know someone needs to make the motion with the correction, if that's all done.

Motion passes 5-0. New business.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Emily Upshaw. I'm a representative with Valley View Consulting. So we assist the finance department in creating these quarterly reports that come to you. So I wanted to take you through the June 30th, 2026. that would be great. So just a quick market update while we're setting up the PowerPoint here. The Federal Open Market Committee is the one that sets the Fed funds rates, and right now, our anticipation is that we will see an increase to the Fed funds rate come maybe December of 2026. So that's But the good news is if they do have the rate hike, the city will benefit from it in that your cash accounts will earn more interest. So that's on the positive side should they decide to increase those rates. So go to the first page here is your summary report. So we're looking from March to June. Your portfolio decreased by about $934,000. This is typically a spending period for the city this quarter and next quarter. particularly your general fund, until you start bringing in your tax revenues for the preceding quarters. So seeing a little bit of a decrease is to be anticipated. The total portfolio return for this quarter was 3.59%. Prior quarter was 3.54%. So you saw a little bit of an increase, mainly due to the decline in balances. So the cash accounts actually came down, and therefore your rate increased just slightly. Your current quarter interest income was about $217,000. Prior quarter was $229,000. On the next page, We have the economic overview. I always point to that top left treasury yield curves chart. This kind of gives an indication of economic health of the overall US economy. The red line is actually in more of a normal slope, like we should see in a healthy economy. So we're still very flat, but it's moving to a normal curve. So what that means for you is that your cash accounts are earning less than the investments that we can place with fixed income. So in this quarter, you'll see on the preceding pages that staff did place some investments in fixed income to try to take advantage of the yield that we can get with that more normal slope of a curve. The next page, this shows all of the investment holdings for the city. Everything above that blank line is currently liquid in cash accounts so you can access it within one day if you need. Everything below that blank line is currently invested in fixed income with CDs through banks that are fully collateralized or insured. On the next page, Some charts just to give you some information with pictures. The portfolio composition changed a little bit, as I mentioned. We placed some CDs. So the CDs and securities jumped from 24% last quarter to 48% this quarter. This is the type of investment that we want to see for the city to try to lock in those rates while they're available. And it helps with budgeting when you're trying to estimate your interest income earnings. On the next page, we have your book and market value comparison page. This is where you can see where the money moved or if you had any maturities or new investments. So some money was used out of the all spring government sweep account. That's just a cash account that the city utilizes for payments day to day and for capital projects. Everything below that blank line, as I mentioned, you had about $3 million mature in fixed income investments Next page is your fund allocation. So this shows all of the funds where those investments reside. Your general and consolidated. And on the next page you'll see the 2026 bond fund. Those are where the current fixed income investments are. So majority of the investments were placed in that 2026 bond fund. And then the final page, your investment holdings for the EDC. a Wells Fargo sweep account, so proximate quarterly earnings of about $30,000.

YES, MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT AND FILE THE QUARTERLY INVESTIGATION.

MOTION MADE BY MR. LAMBERT, SECOND BY MR. MORONES. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES BY 4-0. MOVING ON TO ITEM B, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO IMPROVE TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES AND THE USE OF CITY BARRICADES AND TRASH RECEPTICALS AS NEEDED FOR THE LIONS CLUB ANNUAL CAUSE SHOW ON MAY 1, 2027.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SILVIA LADERA AND I'M HERE IN BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA LIONS CLUB. the annual car show. And I want to thank you for the time that you have given to me before. However, when we scheduled this date in September, we did not know that there was a conflict in the event, the market day. And we decided that we were in no shape to compete with market day on that day. So we went, we were going back to the first day For the first five years, the Floresville Lions had it the first day of May. In fact, we have a banner for the annual Floresville Card Show the first day of May. But things happen the last couple of years, and they always do. But we're hoping that this time we can do it on May the 1st, 2027. And I'm asking council to allow us to have it on that day. I will remind you that all... fund all monies that are earned go back into the community.

Thank you so much. Do I have any citizens comments? Do I have any council comments?

Yes ma'am. Would that affect our election?

You will have elections. But we will not be, the elections will be at City Hall. And we will be at the courthouse. Plus that those people going to the elections hopefully will come to the car show.

Yes, I did let, I don't remember her number. I did let her know. I just said if she did want anything.

YES, MA'AM. DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES AND THE USE OF CITY BARRICADES AND TRASH RECEPTICALS AS NEEDED FOR THE LIONS CLOTHING AND CAR SHOW.

MOTION MADE BY COUNCILPERSON LAMBERT. SECOND BY MS. MAYOR POTENTIAL. ALL IN FAVOR? THANK YOU. 5-4 AND 0-8. ITEM C, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF VERBAL STREET FROM THIRD STREET TO THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE TASK OFFICE PRIOR TO THE RENOVATION HOME DRIVEWAY AND THE USE OF CITY BARRICADES FOR THE TRUNKER TREE EVENT ON OCTOBER THE 24TH, 2026.

Thank you, Mayor and Council, for allowing me to speak here. Children's Alliance of South Texas, the Child Advocacy Center, I think most of you are familiar with our work. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm so sorry. Michelle King, the development director for Children's Alliance. I apologize. here in Floresville, so you all have a very special place in our heart. We've now expanded, of course, our headquarters is now in Jurgenton, but we have a service office in Floresville, one in Pleasanton, and one in Cotulla. And what we do is provide free services for child abuse survivors and non-attending family members. And I want to say that listening tonight to the compassion and care about the children and their best interests is so heartwarming and it's very encouraging. And we thank you for the support that you've always given to us. So this is our annual event, our Trunk or Treat, which is free to the community. Last year we hosted, we welcomed around 800 guests, and each year it keeps increasing, so it is an event where community members can come share information about their organizations, their businesses, when they participate as a trunk participant. We have a lot of activities for the kids. Dr. Gonzalez and I have been speaking recently about the possible collaboration between the Parks and Recreation in this, and we'll know more as we go ahead, but that is something that we're discussing. Whether it works for this year or maybe in the future, we don't know just yet. We have to meet with our board members tomorrow and see. But I just want to thank you all for your encouragement, your support, and I hope that everybody will be able to join us for this. It's a child abuse prevention awareness activity as well, where we hand out information to the parents about recognizing the signs and indicators of abuse, what to do if a child makes an outcry. So while it's fun, it has a much deeper purpose as well.

Do I have a motion?

Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve the temporary closure of Railroad Street from 3rd Street to the area in front of the CAST CAC office prior to the Vineyard Funeral Home driveway and the use of city barricades for the trunk retreat event on October 24th, 2026. Do I have a second?

I'll second. Motion made by Mr. MOTION PASSES 5-4, 0 AGAINST. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ITEM G, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE AND THE USE OF SITTING VERITATES, TRASH, RECEPTICLES, AND DUNSTERS AS NEEDED FOR THE WEEK AND WEEKEND OF THE 32ND ANNUAL CHOREOGRAPHY FESTIVAL.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council members. My name is Lindsey Engel. I'm the president of the Piedmont Festival Association for this year. I'm coming to you this evening asking for the street closures and the use of trash receptacles as we have every year in the past. The street closures are the same. I do have one correction to the listing that you have for 4th Street. That's the second bullet there on the email. 4th Street from D Street to C Street, Quinn We're requesting to move that back to 5 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. for the tax office, because the tax office is open until 5 p.m., so we want to go ahead and give them that. They are closed Thursday and Friday, so that's the only change that I have to what you have.

but there's always a barricade there on E and usually They're in and out. And I don't know where, they used to put the trash there too, so I don't know if the trash is gonna go there.

I'm not sure where, that's usually the city decides where they put the trash.

I have a motion. Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve the temporary street closures and use of city barricades, trash receptacles, and dumpsters as needed for the week and weekend of the 82nd annual Flores Volcano Festival.

I'll second.

I'll second.

Motion made by Mayor Pochette and Flores, seconded by Mr. Felix Cantu. All in favor? I HAVE THE CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-017, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR FROM HER DESIGNATION TO ENTER INTO THE MULTI-UNIT AGREEMENT, USED AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TEXDOT, FOR THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF AUTOMATED LICENSED RECOGNITION CAMERAS ON HIGHWAY, ON U.S. HIGHWAY 181, TEXAS,

and then text 97 east and west and fm 536. good evening mayor university council uh gary law from fourth opd so back in the 24 25 budget season or grade season sorry we uh in February of this year, and we had this on the agenda before with this release as city manager. It was signed. We've got to the point where we need to release the funds, and then now that we had to make some changes to the accounts, we had to add Mr. Munoz, we need to re-approve the resolution.

I don't have any citizens' comments.

I'm sorry. This was already brought to you before council approved. So this is just a formality changing from one city manager to the other. Yes, ma'am. Correct.

Absolutely. Okay. But she's no longer. Correct.

Yeah, she was one of the, I can't remember her official title, but she was one of the Well, one of the concerns brought up earlier was about funding, and this should answer some of that. We've got grant funding to cover a portion of the cost. Some of the other questions that I heard was that these things are invaluable in investigations, especially in high-priority violent crime, missing children, things of that nature. Personally, in March of 25, we had a murder hearing for us. Well, we don't get them all the time, but our ALPR, reading an image, wrote that case wide open, and we were able to solve that crime

I think that's the biggest thing they see, the ALPRs, and they're like, oh my God, they're going to track me all the way back to my house. So can you kind of go a little bit more in depth of kind of what we're doing here right with the ALPRs?

Sure. ALPRs, all of our ALPRs that we're applying to our station, they're not going to follow anybody anywhere. If you travel past one in a fixed location, it's going to capture an image of your car with a license plate. It does not pull your name, address, The hot list stuff that it does is if through TCIC, NCIC, which is Texas Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center, if information is uploaded by law enforcement or partners of law enforcement for vehicles or available to where they will come and actually give a presentation to councils and commission reports and so forth about how the system works, records maintenance, and all that good stuff. And I can tell you, we've already adopted a policy within the PD about accountability, records management retention,

So I know that we mentioned grant funding covered some of that. Is there a fee? Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve resolution number 2026-017, authorizing the mayor or her designation to enter into a multiple use agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the installation MISSION CAMERAS ON U.S. HIGHWAY 181, TEXAS 97 EAST AND WEST AND ETHAN 536. DO I HAVE A SECOND?

I'LL SECOND. MOTION MADE BY MAYOR POCHIN FLORES, SECOND BY BARERA CANTU, COUNCILWOMAN BARERA CANTU. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. I MEAN, ALL AGAINST? MOTION PASSES, THREE, FOUR, TWO AGAINST. MOVING ON, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SEVENTH STREET WATER, WASTEWATER, AND ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT UTILIZING SEVERAL TRUSHLESS SOLUTIONS THROUGH FIVE-WORD CONTRACT 26-227-527 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 571,515. AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUSIN. I'D LIKE TO PRESENT A PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT ON 7TH STREET BETWEEN STANDARD STREET AND TRAIL STREET on 7th Street involving sewer line pipe bursting, water line tie-ins, and street reconstruction. The project includes bursting approximately 990 linear feet of existing six-inch water main, sewer main, and upsizing it to an eight-inch sewer main. This work would replace the clay sewer infrastructure and provide additional capacity for the area. As part of the water line work, all service connections will be removed from the existing four-inch cast iron water line, and the main will be just decommissioned Our work is complete. Southern Trenchness has provided a quote under by-board contract 730-24 with a total quoted price of 571,550. The purpose of bringing this quote forward tonight

A QUESTION?

A QUESTION THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY EXCEEDED THE CONTRACT.

THIS CONTRACT IS THROUGH THE BUY BOARD. SO THAT CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED PREVIOUSLY. AND WHAT WE LOOK AT IS THE QUOTE TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE ONE OF THE VENDORS.

to authorize the 7th Street Water, Wastewater, and Road Reconstruction Project utilizing southern trenchless solutions through by-board contract number 26-227-527 in an amount not to exceed $571,550 and authorize the city manager to execute all necessary documents. Number seven. I'LL SECOND.

MOTION MADE BY MS. COUNCILWOMAN DORA MARRERO-CANTUL, SECOND BY MAYOR POTENTIAL FRANCIS LORES. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. 5-4-0 AGAINST. ITEM G. CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-025, ADOPTING

I WANTED TO SEE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FEEDS IN THERE THAT ARE NEW, RIGHT?

I ain't lying, I think I counted about 100 of them.

SO IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME.

BECAUSE I SEE A LOT, I MEAN, THERE'S LIKE SIX PAGES OF NEW FEES. I UNDERSTAND. EVEN THE BILL OF FINDS I THINK IS $25, $10. EVERYTHING, WE WANT INSURANCE

MOTION TO TABLE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO GO AHEAD AND TABLE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-018, RESOLUTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER TABLE, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026-025, ADOPTING A COMPREHENSIVE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE FOR CITY FEES, RATES, CHARGES, PERMITS, LICENSES, SERVICES, AND OTHER MINISTRIAL Municipal fees and if we can table back to the next council meeting, which I believe that takes to September 9th I mean mayor for 10 floors second by council person, um All in favor Motion passes by four zero against

CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 20-26-018, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FLORIDA, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE USE OF HOSPITAL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 21,000 BY THE WILSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR THE FLORIDA LOCAL EVENT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 351 OF THE CITY OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE, FINDING THAT THE Expedentia promotes tourism and the conventions and hotel industry and provides for related matters.

Yes, good evening. So back in May 14th meeting, it was asked to bring back the offering for the amount that they had requested because we did lower funds of another agency. So there are funds available. They did apply back in May. They had a meeting with the tourism board. Just there were not going to be available funds for them. There are, after agreeing the budget, we didn't bring it back. We should have brought it back sooner, but we hadn't.

Hi, my name is Carol and I'm the president of the Wilson County Historical Society. We've come to the finance committee, the budget meeting, we've been here several times. The money, we have 12 offerings. which is the first Thursday of every month. We have people that come in from all over. We've had people from out of the country. We've had people from other states. We have entertainers that come in, and they come and they stay in hotels here. They spend their money on whatever, you know, restaurants We also have, this year will be the 13th of February of 2027, and we've been lucky enough for the last three years to host the Johnny Bush birthday celebration. He was a famous country western singer years ago. He has passed away. We have his family that comes. We have his grandchildren that come. We have people from all over. I've met people at other places that I've been. that remember coming here. So we are asking for this money so that we can help, you know, with the cost that we have in putting on the Opry and stuff. And part of this, we have done a lot for the county of Wilson County. We helped restore the city jail downtown, the old courthouse. We've also given money recently to the county commissioners so that we can fund things like new chairs and stuff for the show barn, the expo center.

number 2026-018 the resolution of the city council of the city of floresville texas authorizing the use of hotel occupancy tax funds in the amount of twenty one thousand dollars by the wilson county historical society for the forestville opry event pursuant to chapter three by

Do I have a second?

Second, ma'am.

Motion made by Councilperson Doral Barguero-Santos, seconded by Councilperson Felix Cantu, all in favor?

or any of that, we called it best ahead. And there was no reason to wait this long, but at the same time,

MOTION MADE BY MS. DORVALERA-CANTU. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY MS. DORVALERA-CANTU. DO ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES 5-4, 0 AGAINST. MOVING ON, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026.0 VALORANT TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027. I'M ALSO ASKING TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

TABLE IT.

2026-024, ADOPTING A TAX RATE AND LEVYING AT POLERA TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 THROUGH 2027 TO THE SEPTEMBER 8TH MEETING.

I'M SECOND. OKAY, THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. SECOND BY MR. COUNCILPERSON MARIO MORONES. ALL IN FAVOR? Item J, consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve the recommendations for a better work for the installation of water fountains at city parks.

Good evening, Madam Mayor and City Council. So as I discussed earlier, we had mentioned the installation of a possible installation But that is just one of nine locations. And so what I was able to do was go out and look at the possibility of adding or replacing existing fountains. What we came to find was there was not very many that were existing, and then the need was found. And so what I went ahead and did was identify where we would put a fountain. In addition to that, you know, the city dog park would have a separate type of fountain. We want to make sure we put a doggy hole out there because that's needed. And then hike and bike trail It may not necessarily be a park location, but it is a hiking bike trail. It is part of our park system, and so it's something that I wanted to include as the El Camino Legal hiking bike area. So then lastly, the all-inclusive playgrounds. That's near the football field, way back there in the sports complex. I feel that it kind of gets used very frequently, but then at the same time, it's just not something at the forefront when we talk about our parks, and so it's another area of need. And so what you have here is a proposal for a total of 78,400 purchasing the products uh through barco if tonight it is approved it will take about 10 to 12 weeks i spoke with them this past week they said it would take probably about mid-december just depending on how quick you get everything to them and a product is fabricated and then they get that to us and then we'll be working with a company called texas prime pool building solutions at $43,350, and which they will go ahead and do the installation. So they're actually going to put together the fountains, not just place them in the dirt. You're talking concrete pads, accessibility to it. Some of the locations, you know, we just unfortunately don't have sidewalks. So just being able to get to the fountain, we want to make sure that they have some sort of pad, roll up pad for railing if necessary to those spaces. And so that's what you see before you today.

Do we need, how many do we buy? Eight?

Nine. So nine, it's nine total. Eight are ABA and one is within a dog bowl.

I mean, I know we need water fountains, but at the same time, I've been asking and I don't think there's any place in any of I believe we looked at that. They would have to, additional wiring and Phelps was going to help us with that, but I'll follow up on that request for a work with it and it's not but and I'm not any Christian but it's just simple to throw a couple of wires down and be able to plug into my thing is the parts should have some kind of power outlet so they can plug in a bouncing house or whatever they want to have versus you know to me say by water for water And now, if we call them and come do it, we're gonna want another 78,000 dollars to put a couple of clubs. Like I said, I believe, in my opinion, that we put the carriage in front of the horse, and that's what a lot of times what the city does. We're doing good things, we're doing positive things, and we appreciate what you're doing, but at the same time, we need to think of, okay, well, do we need nine at 8,000 each? AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE ALL EIGHT OR NINE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, BUT TO ME, I'M NOT AGAINST THE WATER FUND, BUT I'LL BE AGAINST THE AMOUNT OF WATER FUND. SO MY VOTE WOULD BE NO ON THAT BECAUSE, HEY, WE'RE VOTING ON NINE. BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK AND SAY, OKAY, LET'S COMPROMISE. LET'S DO FOUR PLUGS OR SOMETHING. LET'S START WITH TWO PARKS OR WHATEVER. WE NEED TO TALK. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.

Do I have a motion for this? Mayor, I'll make a motion to go ahead and approve the recommendation for bid award for the installation of water fountains at the city parks. Do I have a second? MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PORTUNE-FLORES, SECOND BY BARRETA-CANTU, COUNCILWOMAN BARRETA-CANTU. ALL IN FAVOR?

ALL AGAINST? MOTION PASSES.

Item K, consideration, discussion, and possible action to approve the comprehensive and classification plan for fiscal year 2023.

good evening mayor members of the council when i first started this was one of the requests i had received for us to look at on how we established the pay breaks for our employees we did a comprehensive review of the personnel files we also looked at a previous compensation study that a previous council had approved and there was really no initiation or action taken on that compensation plan And so we started looking at job descriptions. We started looking at the positions that were available. And what we found was we had very outdated job descriptions. So we got the job descriptions. We printed them out. We gave them to all the directors. We had them interview their staff, work with their staff to make sure that what they're currently working on was aligning with the old job description. And we found out that it required significant changes to the job descriptions. Some positions didn't have job descriptions and vice versa. When we looked at the personnel files, a lot of the intake orientation documentation was not in the files. And so what we started to look at is how were we really looking at compensating our employees throughout the year as well as new hires. And it had been practiced who had worked for us X number of years separated from the city, a new employee was hired and they really didn't look at the education. They didn't do anything in terms of education or anything, work experience. but they paid them what the previous employee was making. And so typically, those, if you have a classification system, it reverts back to that pay grade at the entry level. Not in this case where we have some employees throughout the city that were paid what the previous employee was paid and we didn't take into consideration education or experience or anything like that. We were paying at that level. It was just always told to me that that's just the way Foylesville did things. So again, I was asked when I started to look at the compensation. So we looked at the job descriptions. We created a position analysis, which is about 10 questions. But we asked the directors to look at the job descriptions, modify the job descriptions, as well as what employees were currently making. And so we kind of mapped all of that out. And we grouped a lot of the job descriptions in the same cluster. And we looked at surrounding cities of our size throughout the state of Texas to see what they were paying based on their classification systems. So we created, I believe it is, F goes from F1 to F22. It gives you a minimum entry level for that pay position, a midpoint, and a maximum. So we graded all of the new job descriptions. We gave them one of those rates, and it gave you now what those pay levels are. We did a step-pay plan as well in terms of advancement. We looked at having to initiate annual performance evaluations, successful completion of required trainings. We found out, especially in code enforcement, that we were paying code enforcement, but we were not requiring them to get a license for code enforcement. So there was a violation. We have two people having to do what the code enforcement was originally hired to do. And so we found out through a lot of employee records that we were not requiring the trainings that were required for that position. So we're in the process of getting credentials as they need to be. We also looked at is part of the evaluation departmental standards as well as budget appropriations if it can be done. So we have a 10 step process. There is an entry rate. And as you go up from the entry level, if you're a new employee on your way up, you're able to advance just based on that percentage entry rate. So one of the biggest things that we did add with this conversation is when there is a vacancy available and it was previously occupied by a previous employee, you now go back to that entry-level rate. You don't make what the previous person made. step up on the way up. This does not take into account COLAs, the cost of living adjustments, or any additional stipends that may be required or given by the city manager or by a councilor. We also look at certification page where we look specifically at water and wastewater certifications. It has been tradition for a Class C license to obtain. We grant $500 annually, a Class B license $1,000, a Class A $2,000 annually. We did look at several of the cities as it is addressed here. And so what we'd like to do tonight is get your approval to adopt this classification schedule and plan to move forward Uh, for now, and for the future, so that way we have a basis on how we can work and justify the pay for staff.

Thank you for doing that. Do you have any questions from them?

I have a question. I can say that I want to make the big numbers. Then I see the 1 making 155,000 is going to get another. 23,000 more and then we go to the high pay going to get. 45,000, you know. And I know they only talked about it. Put it through here and to me. You know, our employees deserve their raises their money and everything, but when I see that. person is making $100,000 getting a $20,000 raise on top of what they're making. I have an issue with that.

Yeah, that's right at $20,000 rates.

Well, right here it says the person is making $155,000, the midpoint is $178,000. What is that?

Correct, sir. That is a mid-range point, but if you look at to get from $155,000 to the $178,000, you refer you go with your years of service. It doesn't make an automatic jump. So you don't get three pay levels. You work your way up.

Okay, thank you. Mayor.

Go ahead. Thank you. Would you recommend this is probably a good idea to adopt this after we approve the budget?

This is already based off what current employees are making on the schedule. So on your budget, it doesn't have an actual reflection for the passage of it.

to be able to justify and adopt our budget, get it out of the way. There's no questions, but definitely up to the council. Thank you, sir.

Do I have a motion for this?

Mayor, I do have a question. Go ahead. So I noticed on section 12 there's an implementation plan. Correct. And I know that we are trying to adopt a classification plan, assign positions to grades, correct salaries below the minimum. Have all the salaries been corrected? Do we have any salaries that are below the minimum, or have they already been corrected?

For the majority, they've been corrected at the start. And all of it has fallen within budget.

Sir, I do have another question here. Is there like viral transfers in, like I would say, I use that term in the fire department,

So that's a great question. If the position is a true lateral move, they would stay at their current rate of pay. But if there's additional certifications or whatever it may be, that needs to be addressed and they go, the employee, because it is an actual move, Does it, they basically start over with your orientation period. So it's a new job, new position, new orientation period. What we've also done is if there is a vacancy and an employee is interested in applying by all means apply for it. And then at that point, the committee with the employees They will address what that pay level would be at the entry levels and if it's a lateral move, then that's taken into consideration.

Yes, sir. Another question I have is, um, is salaries, you know, when they interview with you, are they.

Yes, thank you. So, in the past, when there were races that were approved, it was across the board for everyone. recommendations will come from the department heads or?

Correct. Based on the step up plan, if it meets one of those eligible criteria, the director can recommend to the city manager for approval. So long as it meets one of those standards and so when you have the pay range change, it will be documented clearly why the individual received that amount.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS?

MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. MOTION MADE BY MAYOR POTENTIAL. SECOND BY COUNCILPERSON PURIX. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL AGAINST? MOTION PASSES 3-4, GO AHEAD. MOVING ON, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE TASK ORDER NUMBER 004, THE TAP ASSOCIATES FOR PROFESSIONAL PLANNING SERVICES RELATED TO THE F-M 181 PLANNING PROCESS.

THIS REQUEST COMES FROM FEDC. WHAT THEY'RE ASKING IS YOUR AUTHORIZATION FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE UNDER THE HALF MASTER ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENTS. WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO IS THEY'D LIKE TO DO A MULTI-YEAR CIP TO DO IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE 181 CORRIDOR FROM THE NORTH INTO THE SOUTH. SPECIFICALLY WITH THE FIRST PHASE IS CREATING LIGHTING. AND SO HALF OF THE ASSOCIATES, IF THEY ARE ABLE WITH YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO DO THAT, They'll look at the right of way, they'll do the surveying, they will look at the type of lights and light structures. I know one of the issues that was brought up was light pollution, so they'll look at that as well. But one thing we want to do, overall goal of this project is a beautification project with ample sidewalks, hopefully a hike and bike trail along 181 corridor. With that, on both sides of 181, the first days that it's approved, we're going to look at Tiger Lane moving south towards West 97. Right now, there's some really dark areas there. The striping is not visible. And so for us, it's kind of a safety. ISSUE OF ADDRESSING THAT FIRST AREA FIRST SO TONIGHT ALL IT IS IS AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT IF IT'S APPROVED AT THE NEXT FPDC MEETING WHAT WE'LL DO BECAUSE IT'S NOT BUDGETED WE'LL PASS A RESOLUTION AND DECLARING THE PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE PROJECT AND THEN WE'LL BRING THAT RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION FOR COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED SINCE IT'S NOT A BUDGETED EXPENSE UNDER FPDC SO WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL

Do I have a motion?

Mayor, I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve task order number 004 with Half Associates Incorporated for professional planning services related to the Floresville FM 181 lighting project and authorize the city manager to execute all necessary documents.

Do I have a second? I'll second. MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PUTIAN-FLORES, SECOND BY COUNCILPERSON BARRETA-CANTU. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES, 5-4-0 AGAINST. ITEM M, CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE NEW MEMBER TO THE FIRST EUROPEAN OPEN DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO INCLUDE ANY REAPPOINTMENTS OF CURRENT MEMBERS' APPOINTMENTS TO FILL VACANCIES OR REPLACE EXISTING MEMBERS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. WE HAD ONE RESIGNATION AND THE PICK OF

Yes, I would like to acquaint Audrey Clemons. She is the owner of Meany's Country Kitchen Catering Services. She's the vice president of operations for Barnes Staffing, or retired from. This was a national company serving many states, and she did serve as past president of the Floral Peanut Festival, former board member of Purge Ranch, and past president of Insurance Women of San Antonio.

A MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PORCHIN-FOREST, SECOND BY MS. BAGUERA-CANTU. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES, 5-4-0 AGAINST. EXECUTIVE SESSION. AT THIS TIME, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? THE CITY WILL MEET IN POST-SESSION TO SUIN TO SECTION 551.071, 551.072 OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT THE DECLINE COUNCIL TO DELIVER A BREAK ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER'S PROJECT FOR LIMITED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DO WE DO ALL THREE OF THEM? CAN WE DO ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME? ITEM B, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ORDER A CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.07 PLANNED TO CARRY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH THE LEGAL COUNCIL TO DELIBERATE ABOUT CITY COUNCIL MATTERS AS FOLLOWED. ARBORN FIELDS, REPRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER, COMPLAINED BY FAITH RAMIREZ AND BEN REED VERSUS THE CITY OF GEORGEVILLE AND FEDC. The time is, do I have a motion?

Mayor, I'll have a question after this second.

Do I have a motion to go into executive session?

Mayor, I'll make a motion to go into closed session pursuant to sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.087, and section 1.0. to deliberate about a city council matter as follows. One, project building B, city council, pursuant to sections 551071 and section 1.05, Texas disciplinary roles of professional conduct to consult with legal counsel to deliberate about city council matters. One, two, and three, four, do I have to cite them all?

Just ask your question. Okay, sorry. I just need a second. A second is needed and then a question, please. Yeah, I need a second.

I'll second. Motion made by Ms. Alton-Person-Flores, second by...

Specifically for sections 551.071 and section 105, specifically the number two, grievance filed by the city manager. How is this a legal closed session whenever I haven't been given my right to have a public hearing?

SO THIS ISN'T REGARDING A PUBLIC HEARING YET.

WHAT IT IS, IS WHAT'S STATED UNDER ADVISED FORMULA DEVOTE COUNSEL, AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ALL IN FAVOR? I MEAN, THE TIME IS 8.39.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO ATTEND BACK THERE. WHENEVER THERE'S A COMPLAINT FOR THE GRIEVANCE OF FAITH AND AMIDA, I'D LIKE TO BE CALLED BACK TO THE BACK. When Ben reached

all against motion passes 4-4 and 10 against excuse me can i request no phones go back there

You have to find out what they're going to tell you, okay?