City Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you.

And now, from McAllen City Hall, a meeting of the McAllen City Commission.

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to today's City Commission meeting. We'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by invocation by Commissioner Roland Roley-Rios.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together today and for the opportunity to serve our community. We ask for wisdom in the decisions that we make, compassion for those we serve, and the humility to always do what is right. Please continue to watch over the people of McAllen, keep our first responders and city employees safe, and bless every family in our community. In your name we pray, amen. Amen.

First time in public hearings.

Mayor, commissioners, good afternoon. The following items went to Planning and Zoning Commission on July the 7th, and the board recommended approval on five customer-initiated rezonings and city-initiated rezonings. The first item is rezoning from C3 to C2. It's located at 4811 North Ware Road, just south of Wisteria. Item number two is rezoning from C2 to C2, located at 721 North McCall. This is on McCall and Hackberry. Item number three is rezoning from C2 to C2, located at 5600 North Ware Road. This is on Ware and Dove. Item number four is rezoning from R3A, C3, and R3 to R3. This is located at 2801 North Jackson. This is just north of White Wing. Item number five is rezoning from C3 to C2. Originally, the customer had requested for M2, and he realized he didn't need M2, so he went back to C2. And this is at 4400 North 23rd. It's gonna be multiple lots. This is on North 23rd and Fox. Item number six is the city initiated rezonings of 954 parcels, and this will bring us to 16.9%.

Do we have anybody to speak against any of these items? Anyone to speak against any of these items?

Mayor, I need to abstain from item number six. I have several properties in there that have conflicts.

If not, do I hear a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. All in favor? Aye. Against? Motion carries.

Item B. Item B is a conditional use permit for a bar at 306 South 17. This is Precopa Bar. We are recommending six months since they did have an incident.

They did have a what?

Incident.

What type of incident?

The citation.

Do we have anybody speak against this item? Anyone? Comments? Commissioners? What incident was that?

It was, I think it was an age verification. No, it was an age verification device. Age verification? Yes. Six months? Correct. That's approved.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. Against? Motion carries.

Within six months, of course. Yes.

Need a motion to amend the zoning ordinance of the city of McAllen. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Against? Motion carries. We have consent agenda items A through M. Do we need to pull anything out?

Yes. Item I, Mayor?

Anybody else?

Mayor, I just want to point out for the commission that item F1, consent resolution supporting a grant application to Texas Parks and Wildlife for a grant in the amount of $750,000 does have a $750,000 match. That is for the benefit of the Champion Lakes Golf Course. So we do recommend that, but I wanted to make sure the commission was aware of that match.

Okay, do I have a motion to approve item A through M minus I?

So moved. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Against?

Motion carries, item I. Item I is award a contract for the construction of the McAllen Heritage Center storage building.

Yes, so is this the item that is proposed to be built kind of in the northeast corner of the lot? Yes. Right up to the alley? It's a two-story building? Yes.

It'll be a little further. It's on the south quadrant of that parking lot.

Also, it's not what I thought it was.

It's the storage area, the two-story addition that we had. Talked with the executive director of the Heritage Center. We had agreed to fund a million dollars, and she raised half a million dollars. She's raised the half a million dollars. We put the project out to bid. There were some problems with the first RFP. There was a discrepancy in answering some of the questions, and so to make sure we were fair to anybody interested in the project, we put it out again, which was actually fortunate because the bids came in a little bit lower the second time.

That's great.

What is the status of any lease negotiation with the Heritage Center?

They have an ongoing lease. It's a month-to-month lease, as I've discussed with several of the commissioners. We're happy to entertain a longer term if the executive director wants to come talk about what would be satisfactory to her. I'm more than happy to meet with her. With all of our leases, like with the health plan, they all have language about 30 days out, so the longer term is still going to come with that 30-day out provision.

This one seems a little bit different just because they have raised for their own, on their own account, to participate in the construction of the new building. And so if they're

applying those funds seems like some certainty ought to be considered i don't think there's an issue about getting them out in the first place though i think all we need to do is come and talk about it and do whatever we need to do i don't think anybody here has ever suggested hey let's terminate this

Do we have leases month to month like everybody else?

It was a 2021 to 2026 lease, Commissioner. It was a five-year lease. All of our leases have a 30 or 60-day termination clause. And so that lease terminated in March of 2026. It automatically went to a month to month. And so now it's just a matter of determining if we're going to do another five years or what that term looks like and what that termination clause looks like.

The only thing I'll point out is that apparently the executive director has talked to all of you and has not talked to the city manager or city attorney about that. I would just encourage her to call the city manager.

I can certainly push her in that direction. I'm sorry I asked. So this is going to be located on the southern part of the lot?

Yes, sir.

Where the breezeway and the trees and the...

There's like three palmas in the way. We'll be removing those palmas and we'll be going in that area.

Can you talk a little louder? I'm sorry.

There's like three palmas where the palmas are at. We'll be removing the palmas and we'll be going in that back quarter.

So is it on the closer side to Chicago on the north side of the building? Because that's where I think. I guess that is the north side. Because it kept appearing south. That's right. The north side, right? Yeah, I think I've turned around. I know.

It's south facing the other way, Garvin. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.

Motion to approve. That's it.

All in favor? Aye. Against? Motion carries. Item number three.

Sorry, Mayor. I'm trying to get this thing to turn the page. Mayor, item 3A is award a contract for Los Encinos Turf Field. Danny Moline is here. Do we have any questions?

Yeah. Go ahead.

Commissioner, Mayor, Commissioners, yes, we're here to consider and approve a word of contract to Texas Artificial Turf and Design, LLC, through TIPS Cooperative for the purchase and installation of the turf field at Los Encinos Park.

Okay, so we've looked at, you know, we have various parts all over and we decided to do this one.

Yes, sir.

Over there. Is there a reason?

It was awarded back in 2022, 2023 from then city manager for this particular district to be awarded another turf field.

This particular district needs some love.

that's uh district four yes yeah but what about one or two oh they all do for five or six 22.

It was mentioned in that time frame, and then we got funded for it, and then now, yes, sir, we're coming into construction.

But it's going to be strapped as a soccer field, right?

Correct. Okay. Multi-purpose soccer field. Motion to approve.

Multi-purpose means so there's...

Just like the one we have at Las Palmas. It's a soccer field, but it's multi-purpose.

All in favor? Aye. Against? Motion carries. Item 3B. Thank you, Denny.

Item 3B is consideration and approval of recommendations that we just heard in the workshop with regard to the City of McAllen Employee Health Plan. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Against? motion carries item c mayor item 3c is consideration for the purchase and installation of a new fire alarm system for the mcallan convention center this is through cooperative pricing i wanted to make the commission aware um that uh some of the boards uh well go ahead i'll let you explain why we need to the total amount is 198 311. the current fire system that we have is obsolete and is no longer being able to be serviced or purchase additional parts for it so

We need a new system.

Is this more like a complete gutting, either repair, replace?

It's a complete new system, yes.

190 something. That seems very inexpensive. Very reasonable.

Yeah, it seems very low. Some move. Some move.

Second. Before they change their mind, all in favor? Aye. Against? Motion carries.

Item 4. Item 4A is consideration of a variance request to interior street right-of-way and paving with requirements for the proposed vias at Tres Lago subdivision phase 2.

SO THIS VARIANCE IS TYPICAL LIKE THE REST OF THE THREES LOGOS. IT'S 32 FEET OF PAVING WITH 10 FEET OF UTILITY EASTMENTS ON BOTH SIDES WITH UTILITY EASTMENTS AND SIDEWALK EASTMENTS. SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL ON THIS ONE. IT'S JUST A CONTINUATION OF THE EXISTING VARIANCE. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AGAINST? MOTION CARRIES. MANAGERS REPORT. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. WHAT DO WE HAVE? ANYTHING DIFFERENT? If not, we'll reset into executive session.

You ready for it? Go ahead.

5.47 p.m., we're back from executive session.

Mayor Pro Tem, for items 6B, no action is required. For items 6A and 6C, I recommend that the board entertain a motion to authorize the city manager and city attorney to proceed as described in executive session. So moved. Second.

Motion by Mr. Zamora, second by Mr. Rios. Everybody in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Going to post some sign. Motion carries. Anything else? That's all. Well. That's it. 548. This session is adjourned.

Regular City Commission meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Meetings are broadcast on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays on the McKellen Cable Network.