City Council - Regular Meeting

support. Let's bow our heads. Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight asking for your guidance and wisdom. Bless our council, our staff, and everyone gathered here as we make decisions for the good of our community. Grant us clarity, unity, and a spirit of service. Protect our city and help us lead with integrity, compassion, and fairness. Our Father, who art in heaven, be thy kingdom, 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 into the flag of the United States of America and to the flag for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Honor the flag. I aliance to the Texas one state under God one and indivisible. establish a quorum. Miss Vera Jenz is here. Councilman Maron is here. Mr. Jake is here. Miss Francis uh Flores is here. Mr. Peter is here. myself has come through. We're going to start. Do I have any citizens coming up and state your names? Thank you so much for having me here tonight. My name is Josh Cortez. Want to introduce myself formally. Many of you have already worked with their previous capacity, but I'm running for the Texas 35th congressional district, which as you know is a brand new congressional district now for our area. You see the Texas I was a political director for Mont Cruz and our deputy chief of staff and now we've been split in half. The top part of the district is going to be qual counties and a little bit of Bear County. This given the new section is 35th. Good thing for us is that now we have an opportunity to represent our needs in Washington DC. Previously when it was seven counties, we were put in a position where we had to deal with border issues in Edinburgh and Macallen and then we had the ranch rule issues up

here in this region in our now hard for our own area as we should be. My best my background is not only did I come from here but I'm also a generation Texan K Hudson our senator but very first boss and so being on the ground working with not only former veterans the local constituent services is something that I know how to do well from county born and bread went to Ronald's Christian academy for high school this is my area this is my home there's nobody else running in the rural areas right now the only people that are running from San Antonio I know what we need in the great in the region the areas that can be affecting this that problems that we affect this area. First thing, we have a water issue that we need to get ahead of. Our water tables are dropping rapidly. We have a lot of development that's happening. Whether people think that's a good or bad thing, the common thread of truth is the fact that we are have a water problem on our hands in the next five to six years. Our water table will continue to drop and we're not getting out of it. There's real water grants that can be accessed at the federal level and that ain't part of my job. able to bring those here. It's going to be obviously a state, federal, municipal, and count and county issue, but we got to work together and we're behind the curve right now. Second of all, there's a great opportunity down not only for this area, but also as a game for trade technical schools for our students. The CEO of Open AI, which is what I studied at school, uh the CEO of Open AAI said that in the next 45 years, white collar graduates of four-year colleges will have their job opportunities cut by 50%. That means that our children are not be able to go and do that and be able to have those jobs that maybe were available to us for those of us that have opportunity to go to college. But what we can do and what AI cannot do is AI can't run a nptic tank. AI can't be uh electrician that fixes an air conditioner degree weather. AI can't be one of the many creates of nursing that we have available for our students. And we're a working district. Our students

are FFAS and our 4 students can do that. We can do the welders to continue to power Texas and the United States. Lastly, our energy and our agricultural independence is massive for this area. Our ability to grow for ourselves and not have protein and produce that comes from out of the country that can be raised by Texans for families for Texas children is of national security importance. Secondly, our ability to be able to uh to to to reduce and to bump our own energy here in K city and Wilson County uh in K County and Wilson County that is also a national security issue. We're not relying on foreign entities for our energy. So, those are things that we're going to address. Obviously, there's a lot more to be had. You guys can reach out. I will be following up with each of you for the rest of the meeting, but Josh Cortez, you can go to.com for more information. Thank you so much for having me time.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cortez. Um, okay. We're going to do the public hearing. We're gonna Is that all? We didn't have any more citizens come? No. Okay, we'll move on to our public hearing and it'll start at 6:06. Yeah. And the first one, a request for a special use permit for installing a manufactured home at 7814th Street. Do I have any citizens coming?

None. Okay. Then we'll close it at 607. Next we will have um um uh the B and that will start at 607. and a request for a special use permit for installing a manufactured home at 1603 F Streets. Do I have any citizens comment on that one?

No. We will close that one at um 608. We'll start the other one. Uh the next seat at 608, an ordinance amending the city of Florida code of ordinance title 15 land user amending chapter 153 zoning modifying regulations for manufactured homes manufactured home courts and mobile homes within the city. Do I have any comments on that? Do I have any no comments at all? We will close it at 608. Okay, we're gonna I'm gonna move um the um the agenda around because I think we have children here and we're going to move on to is that correct? Okay, I'm going to move this item to presentation and discussions. Uh um before um I have a comment before we do this. I just want to say um Oh, do I have any comments from Miss?

Let's do the com. Let's do the council comments first. Most of do you have any comments?

Um yes. Um, just as for the next meeting, I would say the meeting in February, the first meeting in February, please add to the agenda that I will give my National League of Cities updates. That will include my National League of Cities summit from last month in November in Utah. I will be attending again in DC in January so I can give up February before I go back to DC in March. So I please request for that to be on the next agenda in February, the first meeting in February. Please,

Mr. Anyways, I want just to take this opportunity right now to kind of answer the Wilson County News uh big article they put in the front page. Uh, I just want to let y'all know that I don't mind asking for open record requests on anything because I would like for the taxpayers to always know where their money is going. I didn't have a chance to respond back to them, but I didn't want to respond to the Wilson County News and then twist everything up. I know through Facebook, everybody can hear. So, my thing is with the Wilson County News, uh I think they say that we spend $40,000 convention or conference. One thing is I have no control of how many people went. I can say that. But I want to say that I've been to eight conferences as sitting on the city council and educational very educational is that those conferences you get to pick and choose what is good for you to learn from your city is good networking I do networking talking to I get to meet new city managers uh or from other cities other mayors other councils we get to talk about how to how their city run and we and we talked about hard how hard running and maybe we can learn from from those things to better our city and uh the mileage was paid for a prede what the state asked for that's what we got the meals are the same way the

parking is the same way I drove myself I did not drive my family I went on my own but you know I would You know that at the same time it was two separate entities. it was FDC

and they didn't separate them the way you know say okay the FDC spend 9 or $10,000 we could it it might have been that a few people extra win this this time around but let me just say that the county news you should be maybe putting more positive things on the front page like our youth our churches our our uh senior citizens That's a lot of good things are happening. I like to see that maybe they can put that the rating of the city of Floresville has changed from a from a negative to a positive. Things are positive. And don't get me wrong, the citizens should always know what's going on in the city of Florida. Always. I'm not upset because they put that in the paper. I'm just a little upset because to me, let's just say they spent $18 to $2,000. We get paid $75. I don't know. People know we paid get paid $75 a month for as many meetings as we have. But I take it at heart. I've been a councilman in the past six three terms, sat on the council, did the best. If y'all look me up on on the internet on Wilson County New at the time, I was always 41, but always fighting for the citizens of Florida and I would still be fighting for the citizens of Florida. I just want y'all to know that, you know, this young lady here was a is a Texas Municipal League president of the whole state of Texas where all these cities come together in a convention in Fort Worth this year. We drove over there, you know, we leave our families, some of us, and we go out there and try to learn something out of it. And now if it cost $2,000, I thank the taxpayers for paying it for me. But if there is a problem to me, you can call city hall. You can call me personally. I always give my number personally to everybody or look it up at

city hall. Call me and say, you know what, Mr. No more for you to learn anything compared to the city. uh you know the average I don't know if it would be nice to to compare with the county with with the school board with with where we want to compare but I guarantee you everything is going up and we can say well you can stay at a at a hotel but I tell you what where we're at we all the cities that come together usually rent next to the convention center now I have no control of where I'm going to pay I have no control of the the meals I have no control of the fuel. And all I just want to say that I'm always going to be I'm like I said my struggle with people laugh at me when they say I'm of the people for the people. If y'all have any concerns, any questions, y'all feel free to call me and tell me, Mr. I think y'all took too much money or this and that. But on my myself, it was maybe $1,800 to $2,000. But in an average, if you go out to the convention with the county, let's compare the county. Let's compare plans. Let's compare. And if you even look at it and you average the two, three persons that went from different cities, it's an average of 15 to $1,800, maybe 2,000. But I have no control of what the registration is. But it would be nice if this time the city of Forville took maybe a few more, which is not an excuse because it's taxpayer dollars. But this young lady here became the Texas Municipal League president and we should be proud of our city of large size. We we're on a map

and lot I don't want to take too much time because I could go on and on but I just wanted to go here on record because I don't want to say something to the Wy news and they're just going to print certain things I said or they going to you say something else. I'm here because he can go back live and say, "You know what? I heard that young man or old man or whatever they want to call me and and and then I get these blogs from the Wilson County News that they put that big story. That's fine. I want people to know what's going on here." But then we got council that been here in the past that I guarantee and I went in there to city hall asking for a request to compare theirs 30 years ago to almost the same amount. So the only thing is there could be question hearings amount but I have no control of who didn't win. But I'm just saying that I thank the city and the taxpayers of Floresville for sending me to this country because I do learn to better the city of this and uh from there I can go on and on. I have I have many many notes here to let yall know but I want to give time others just want they want to speak but at the same time if you want to say something nice and be nice and say Texas Mah the front page it be nice the Floridaville tiger band four years straight in in the state uh the seniors are celebrating at the nursing homes the churches are there's a lot of things that a newspaper will sell and I'm I'm not here to knock your newspaper down. I'm just here that you know sometimes we get the best, you know, let's put what really the city of Orville is doing. Sometimes it's okay to put the negatives and what we're doing wrong so that way we can correct our state. But I appreciate everything and and it is like

they say, watch what you're voting for. It's cut to silent January 14th, I think, to February 13. Anybody wants to run for city council, the seats are open. The you can run at us. But I'm here at all heart for y'all for the people of this town and taxpayers. And I hate to take so much time, but I think this needed to be said because everybody say, "Well, he said this, he said that." It's all life and whatever it runs over the city and there's no lying here. But I appreciate everybody else and if there is a problem that we no longer need to go to these conferences, come up to these meetings, come to city hall, tell them let's not do this. I know we can do it different next time and say, but this time we had a president that was, you know, here she sits and I I haven't seen nothing positive in the city about her her being the president of all these Texas cities. that that is something and and the same thing with the churches with with anything. So I'm sorry that I'm not sorry because I I take it at heart for each one these young people that are here. I'm glad y'all are here. Y'all are the future. Y'all step up to the bed. I don't know if somebody wants to make $75. But I'm taking it hard because and I asked everybody you want to do it. No, I've made enemies. I've made friends. I'm here to do a job. So, all I want to do is also remind you it's going to be a holiday dance. It's going to be free at the civic. That's what we should be putting in the paper. I think we paid for it advertising, but it's a free dance at the civic center this Saturday night. I think the doors open. What time?

Seven. Seven. It's all free. There's a reserve tables if you want a special table. I think they're $100. But other than that, the door come on in. It's free. They got the market here. It's something wonderful. It's it's happening downtown. I think it's uh from 8 to 92

92. There's a lot of good positive things happening in Torville. It's not just the past, but uh keep going and we're growing and we can't stop it no more. But the the youth and I like to see the youth here in the future. Thank you. Uh and also happy holidays from my family to yours. Now, it's gonna be hard to talk, but thank you for your time, audio. No, I've got a couple of things um I want to add. Um our interim city manager just graduated from her from Texas State University u with a master's certificate. So, that's that's huge in advancing um our educational opportunities within and promoting within. So, I think that's that's super. Congratulations. Um, another thing, um, I the Wilson County News, that's their it's their job to report. You know, they they they do a good job on staying up to date, especially Miss Draper. She is always on it. You know, it was a tenative to every meeting that she can make and that's her job is to report whether it's current events or something that we spent $40,000. But, you know, at the end of the day, that's your job and and and there's no hard feelings there. But something that I do want to add um to the TML conference um right now um especially this day and age right now Floresville is going through one of the most pivotal development periods this time has ever seen so growing infrastructure and it's so important for us as a council to go up there because personally I was able to learn about muds and puds and pits and how they impact our community as it stands because Orzold is the target of a lot of major uh residential and commercial and industrial developments. So without

getting that knowledge, we're going to just be taken advantage of by a lot of these commercial developers. So yes, it's going to cost the it's going to come at a cost that these that some of these city staff and employees are going to have to go up there. But I would hate, you know, I understand the $40,000, but I'd rather it $40,000 be spent for us to go and city staff to go than be taken advantage of by some commercial developer out of Dallas, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, whatever. And those city tax dollars are taken away from all of us. And then that money leaves. And once that money's gone, it's not coming back. There needs to be development. We need to know what we're up against and what we're what we need to be educated on these different types of things to make ethical and right decisions for you guys. So that's just what I have a little bit about that. You know, I truly now that we're on the TML U topic, I learned a lot and I'm going to do what my in my best interest to make sure that I'm making ethical decisions for all of our taxpayers and all of our citizens of Floresville. So that's why I do think that conferences like that are super important. Thank you.

Just from my family to everyone's um just happy holidays and that's all I have here. Felix, excuse me. I would like to say the same everybody have a happy holidays. good coming new year

and TML was very interesting. A lot of things to learn. That's all I have to say about that. Okay. Myself, I want to say um good evening everyone. Thank you for being here. As your mayor, I want to take a moment to each to wish each and everyone of you a very merry Christmas. May your home be filled with peace, laughter, and the love of family and friends. From my heart to yours, merry Christmas, and may the new year bring hope and happiness to all. So again, thank you. Moving on to presentation uh and discussion. Like I said, I was going to do this.

Your point of information. Oh, okay. Uh I had put on the agenda about a resolution 2026. I forgot about that, but I have received clarification on this item. So, I will not discuss it. Moving on to a point of information for staff. I have a question for staff. Any clarification? This item, the resolution, that's the one that we had voted on in October. Yes. I'm rejoicing the staff merit. This is the one you had voted on in on October. That is correct. And please remind me, is this the one that um Cindy had emphasized the importance of the timeline?

Has the city submitted for this application now that we're talk now that this is on here? So the resolution has to be submitted with that. So until the resolution is submitted to Cindy, can we understand? So point of clarification continuing so so the citizens know for total transparency since that's what we're talking about here. A resolution was adopted and voted unanimously October, our only meeting in October. Development staff did a wonderful job at presenting that information. Thank you so much. emphasizing the urgency on the application and here we are a month and a half later and it has not been submitted.

Is that correct? Correct. Yes.

My my recommendation is for staff to remain on top of these items. So if it means that a signature is needed from a dignitary who's not performing ministerial duties, they need to stay on stop on top of that elected official because it's not hurting any of us. It's hurting everyone out here. is hurting everyone out here to not sign a document so we can submit it for funding. We talked about Councilman Jake just talked about infrastructure needs and developments. We can't do these things without funding and this is very important for us to receive this funding. So please, I please beg you to make sure that this is completed in the next 24 hours.

Yes, ma'am. And I will respond to that. I was just going to um I feel and the reason I hadn't signed it is because I was dealing with TML and I feel that um the reason I didn't want to sign it was because I felt that um since one of our council members was having romantic relationships with with um a city attorney who mayor I'm going to call a point of order on that. That is you wanted a response. No, I didn't ask for it inappropriate. I asked for it. So anyway, I was just going to answer your question.

No, ma'am. Okay. Then the the I already talked to TML. I will sign it as soon as possible. So, thank you. Moving on to item uh four, presentation and discussion. Yes. Christmas parade winners. Mayor, I've got a question for legal. Um we talked before this. You said you were going to ask legal if we could move some items up um due to me having a work conflict at 7 o'lock. um legal. Is it possible for us to move u the executive session items up or is that against policy?

Uh no, it's it's not it's it's really at the the mayor. Okay. I will move that item. I just want to get this over with with the children. Okay. Our first um it's just going to be item A, the parade winners. First of all, um,

I want to thank everybody that assisted, all the staff that assisted in putting another successful, um, Christmas festival and parade together. Um, it seems to be growing over the years. Um, I I want to especially thank Ashley Bethle. She stepped in in a big way this year to assist me with a lot of it and ensuring that our parade participants um had all the information that they needed and we got them lined up in the proper way needed. Um she assisted with the sponsorships that we received this year. I want to thank our public works department that came in. Um you know there's a lot of work that has to be done behind the scenes. We were here from 8 in the morning till 10 o'clock that night. So I want to thank them. Um, we are going to award a first place, second place, and a third place, and then a hometown favorite for our parade entries. Um, the hometown favorite can only be an entry that is a local entry that is from Floresville. So, we are going to start with um our first place winner, which is Giggles and Small Learning Center. Um, they had their homecoming quarter 2026, King Eastston, Queen Mariana, Prince as Princess Adeline. Giggles and Smiles Learning Center cares for children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age, providing hands-on learning and meaningful experiences all year long. Just like Buzz and Woody reminding us that no greater gift than friendship, imagination, and a smile to learning and beyond. So, if we can have the giggles, they're all coming from the hallway.

Okay. So, we'll have the giggles and smiles um group come in. Um I'll just ask you all if you could just all stand up there so that we can get a picture with them once they do come in. That's how we Is it?

Yeah. Thank you all for being here,

for having us. together. Thank you all so much for being here this evening.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

First place. Thank you. Y'all did an outstanding job. Our second place winners are going to go to the 2025 Texas State Pageant Royalty and official Little Miss Antonio pageant royalty. Um, if we have a member that would like to come up and introduce who the who that is.

Good evening San Antonio. I'm sorry. We have baby district San Antonio. And then we have miss. They're so cute. Thank you for coming. for having us.

Okay, second place winners. Thank you for participating as well.

Our third place winners are DRR Towing Service um Danny and Veronica Regalado. So, I I would also like to um express a thank you to DR Towing Service. They were one of our sponsors this year for the festival, and without sponsorship like them, um it is hard to put things like this on. So, we do truly appreciate what you have done for our sake. And for those of you that are unaware, this was the big 18 at the beginning of the parade that everybody wondered how he was going to get through and make that turn, but I give credit to your driver because he did it very smoothly somehow.

Thank you. And then for our hometown favorite, it is going to be the Floresville Peanut Festival. Um, participating in it was Queen Camry Angel, King Wesley Cotturf, first runner at Princess Laya Smith, Prince Walker Bingham, Princess Maddie Harden, Prince Nolan Garcia, Princess Merina Fetis, Prince Jordan Fetis, Princess Alyssa Salazar, Prince Hazen Manuel. The children's court also participated with them. Acolyte Gracand Wingler, Paige Bryson Cidel, Paige Piper Belchure, Scepter Bearer Sawyer Doogie, Crownbearer Dominic Cerninho, train bearer Ken Ashworth, and train bearer Mila Bendes.

Thank you. Thank you very Thank you all so much and again um I know that each and every one of you all the council and mayor participated with us as well. Um it was a great event and we look forward to next year. We have some ideas in place already and different things that we want to bring to the community and

and thank you Monica for doing an outstanding job. Thank you so much and all of y'all that helped of course our staff. And then now um we will go into executive session. If I can have a motion for that. Um the city council will meet in close session pursuant to Texas Government Code section 551.074 personal matters and section 551.071 to consult with legal counsel on the following matter uh matters. Can I do both of them or do I have to do one and come back? You could do both of them.

That's right. Okay. City manager application and hiring process. That's going to be number one. Number two, engagement of interimm city attorney uh Lean and Davidson uh Trulo Ram and Garza PC and assign duties and work. Do I have a motion to go to executive session at um 6:37?

Yes. Uh I will make a motion to go into executive session on the following matters. The city manager applications and hiring process and then engagement of interim city attorney Lee A. Re and Davidson Trolio Tro and Garza PC and assigned duties in work at 637 637. Thank you. Do um do I have a second? Second. Seconded by Miss Himenez. All in favor 54. We will be in executive session.