City Council - Regular Meeting

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hello, my name is Isabella Perez,

recreation leader for the city of Sakuro. Thank you for joining today's meeting. Before the meeting begins, we would like to remind our guests to remove all hats and silence all electronic devices. No disruptive behavior or outburst will be tolerated and violates are subject to ejection and possible prosecution. is Rodriguez, okay? Uh before we begin uh tonight's meeting, I I want to thank everyone for being here today and and just say good evening to everyone. Uh before we begin tonight's city council meeting, I do want to take a moment to address an issue that has recently been brought to the city's attention. The city of Sakoro has been made aware that local media is reporting information regarding a potential federal facility, specifically a possible ICE related facility in or near our community. At this time, this is very early information and the city has not received formal notification or verified details through official channels. Because of that, we will not be providing additional comment beyond this statement at this time. However, I want to be clear. The city of Sakoro is aware of this new information and we will work with all members of the county and all of our elected delegations to seek more information, follow the law, and ensure that the safety and well-being of our residents remains at the forefront of every decision and every conversation. This is a complex issue and we ask for the public's patience and understanding as we work to gather verified information and navigate this matter responsibly. Our commitment to the city of Sakoro and our and our residents

remains true as we receive additional verified information. We will review it and we will communicate updates accordingly. Thank you all for your time. Thank you for being here tonight. God bless the city of Sakoro and God bless America. Thank you. So, it's 6:02 p.m. and I call this meeting to order. And as always, uh we begin our meetings with the pledge of allegiance. And today we have some very special guests from Ernesto Cerna Fine Arts Academy who will be leading us in the pledge of allegiance. You could all please stand. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, one indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas pledge. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. Please remain standing for a moment of silence. So before you all uh head on back home because I know you guys have a lot of homework to do, right? We want to recognize you all on behalf of the city of Sakoro and give you some certificates and I'll have some of our city council representatives read out your name. And when you come up here, go ahead and receive your certificate. And everybody here wants to shake your

hands. Ayanara Torres,

Anthony Kamargo. If any parents or teachers or principles are in the room and want to take a photo, you're more than welcome to come up to the front at this time. Okay, so at this time we're going to go ahead and establish quorum.

Rupenriquez here. Caesar Nevarez here. Alejandro Garcia here. Mayor Rudy Cruz Jr. here. Gina Cordero here. And Irene Roas present. Mayor, we have a quum. Thank you. Okay, we're going to go ahead and start off with the uh public comment. Mayor, we have one speaker, Margarita Perez. Miss P. Okay, Miss Pettis.

Miss Perez, you have three minutes. Uh, good evening, Mayor and Council. Margarita Perez at 10949 Mesa Drain. Uh um I live right in front of uh Sakura Paradise Park and that park has been totally neglected. I know that there's no funds available right now. Uh the canopies were taken off over a year ago. The benches were taken off over a year ago. The only thing is that whenever there's water uh in the city, they go and dispose of it o over there, which is fine, but uh we would really like if there's a way that maybe turn it into a maybe a walking path or something like that. Um I know that the street which is Mesa drain belongs to the water improvement district but uh there is a thing where it states that it has to be maintained. Right now it's full of holes the street because of the rain and the snow and of course the buggies that go and do donuts there. But that, you know, that's not a problem. But it is it it needs to be maintained a little bit. It hasn't been maintained in over a year. We would really appreciate it. And I mean, if there's ideas uh to make it into a a walking path would be great. I know that uh there's going to be a new community in front of it and uh supposedly there's a park that's supposed to be put there. So hopefully that'll help. But maintain the trees. Trees give you life. So please, on another note, when

you um live stream all of the meetings, the audio is horrible. You cannot understand anything that is said. The volume I put my TV on 100 and it's still you still can't hear it. the planning commission meeting. I turned it off because I mean there's no sense in standing there, you know, looking at it because it's not you can't hear it. So, you know, I don't know if you want to look into it and see what the problem is, but when you're live streaming, you can hear it. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Pettis, for those comments. We're going to go ahead and move on to uh presentations. We have a couple actually three presentations and um these items I I felt the need to place some on on the agenda for tonight's meeting uh just to recognize uh some organizations and also some individuals of the community and I'll I'll go into my summary and this is a recognition of PBLO fire department and ESD to the Sakuroto fire department for assisting uh this fire incident that took place on January 20th of 2026. So on January 20th of 2026 at approximately 4:30 p.m. the Sakoro Police Department was dispatched to the 11369 block of Alamela Avenue in reference to a fire. Officers arrived on scene at approximately 4:35 p.m. and learned that employees at the location were crushing a vehicle when a fire ignited. While workers attempted to isolate and control the initial fire, a secondary fire occurred. Although the fire was ultimately extinguished, a nearby resident experienced property related impacts while attempting to assist in containing the situation by accessing the fire hydrants. Following the incident, the public fire department has offered assistance to the affected family to help restore the property and address damages. While this action was not required, it reflects an exemplary gesture of community support during a time of need. The city of Sakoro would like to recognize both responding fire departments for their professionalism, service, and dedication to protecting the public. So, a small token of appreciation will be presented to you all today uh in gratitude. So, on behalf of the Sakuro City Council, um if we can please have um both fire departments uh come up here, we'd like to present you all with with a plaque on behalf of the city of Sakoro and recognize you all.

Can we give you some Thank you very much. you know, and now that that we're on the the subject of of the incident that took place, I also want to um make it public today and and also thank the the residents uh of Sakoro because they they allowed you all to go in there and and mess up their yard and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, they they were very thankful and grateful uh for what you all did and putting out that fire because had you all not been there at the time, um that fire could have easily spread to the residential um parts of the city. So, thank you all again. We're going to move on to agenda item number six. This is also a

recognition and um I wanted to read this one to you all because it just shows how how the community comes together to help each other out when when we're in need. So following the recent public safety response, a resident experienced u damage and disruption to their yard due to the heavy vehicle activity in the area and Maru Construction voluntarily stepped in at no cost to the city or the resident providing the use of their machinery and donating screening material to repair and restore the resident's yard. This effort reflects a strong commitment to community support and demonstrates outstanding partnership and goodwill. The city of Sakoro would like to formally recognize Marufa Construction for going above and beyond to assist a resident in need. And a small token of appreciation will be presented. Before I ask uh Mr. Malufo to come up here, I want everybody to know that he also is a proud bulldog and Sakoro lifelong resident. And thank you, sir. You can come up here. We want to also present you with a plug. 26. This is the owner.

Okay. Okay, we'll be moving on to agenda item number seven. This is a uh a presentation on Border Plex Community Capital BCC interest rate buyown program for small businesses by Mr. Hector Spino, the technical assistance coordinator. And um so just want to give you all a little bit of insight of of when I met Mr. Spino at one of our uh so breakfast and other events that he's participated in here in the city. And so this presentation from Border Plex Community Capital is regarding their 2% interest rate buy down program which is designed to assist eligible small businesses within the city of Sakoro by reducing business loan interest rates by up to 2% improving cash flow and supporting business growth. Um, as you all know, we've always been uh great supporters of of the small business, and I think that it's important for uh this 501c nonprofit uh community development financial institution uh to provide access to capital and technical assistance to our small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the region. Mr. Spino, good evening.

Good evening. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, um members of council. Um thank you for the brief introduction. My name is Hector Spino. I am with the capital. Um, um, just really quick, we are a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 2020. We are a partner of the El Paso Community Foundation. Uh, the foundation was established in 1977 as a permanent endowment of El Paso and surrounding Borderland region. The foundation provides grants and scholarships, manages funds and connects the community to information and resources. Since the inception, uh, foundation has given back an estimated $300 million, over 20 million in 2024 to a wide range of organizations. Um, this is just really quick a map of our service coverage area. Um, what we aim to do is we provide loans to small business owners, meaning the mom and pop business, the business owner that would likely get declined if they go to a local credit union or our national banks Chase Fargo, Bank of Americas. Our loan amount ranges between 10,000 and 250. Uh those larger amounts are mainly real estate. So again, our focus is that gap 25 and 100. Um this is just a comparison to the local CDFIS that we have. One of them is Lift Fund. Maybe you live fund or people fund as a comparison to us just in total assets. As you can see, we are a lot higher in total assets along with the foundation 225 million. Uh but now on to the presentation which is I'm here to present two projects u for the city of Sakoro. One of them is the buy down program. But first um I'll start off with I think why it matters to the city

of Sakoro. I just speak for myself. Um, but I think some of us driving around, um, we see a lot of warehouse space, a lot of, uh, familiar franchise names that come up or popping up, if you will, um, logistics centers, big global leaders, but what are we doing for our local small business owners? Um, what about the local barber shops, the local nail salon, local beauty salon, the panaderia, the mechanic, our daycarees? what are we doing for them? You know, um, so I'll present to you two projects that I think might interest you. One of them is requesting the program. One is a revolving line of credit and the second one is an interest rate buy out program. Um, so how does a revolving line of credit work? Um, the city would allocate funds in this example for today We put 500,000. Whatever your budget has, it has. We're using 500,000 as an example. If you want to allocate 100, 200, if you don't want to allocate, it's just a proposal. Um, so using the 500,000, the city of Sakura would allocate the funds and BCC would originate the funds, service the funds to help and grow your small business community. Once the funds or the loans are repaid, they are used to relent to other small business owners. So, it's a fun That's forever, if you will, or until the termination of the contract. Um, this would help your small businesses get working capital, inventory, equipment, or small buildouts, leaseold improvements, or construction if they own the property. Um, we will provide technical assistance at no cost. Um, you might have heard the term technical assistance. Um, if you're not familiar with the term technical assistance, it can be broad and it can be at different levels. I'll give you some examples.

People come and ask us, "Hey, I've been in business. I registered with the county, but a buddy of mine told me about an LLC. What's an LLC? Need it? You recommend it? How do I file my certificate of formation?" We walk through it. We educate the client, the small business owner. We can process it for them and help them obtain certificate formation. Another example can be small business owners, someone that's been in business for two years, for example. they're ready to hire someone. I'm ready to hire someone. I don't know what to do. How do I hire someone? What's the legal steps? How's the process? How do I get table? So, we walk them through everything. We educate them. Um, it can be between hiring people, operating agreements, employee handbooks, financial statements is a very important one. And again, that's a different level. Some people come and say, "Help me do a profit analysis or break even analysis." Some people come and say, "I heard you balance sheet. What's a balance sheet? What's an income statement or what's this profit and loss? We sit down, we educate you and walk you through the steps of better becoming a better small business owner. So our average loan size for this would be about average loan of 40,000 term would be 18 months. um we can have between 10 and 12 active loans at the same time till they are repaid. Um what the city would get out of this is obviously help to the small business community, a permanent capital tool, a revolving fund, a pipeline of investment ready local firms and you can create jobs in your community, retain jobs in your community and we will report to you transparent reporting whether you decide to do it quarterly, semianually or annually. Um the second program that mayor touched on is the buy down interest rate program. Um, am I allowed to take questions? Anyone ask question?

Yeah, after your presentation, if anyone on the table has questions.

Okay. Uh, the interest rate buy down program, how it works, um, you can allocate 50,000 to a pro a fund, if you will, 100,000, whatever your budget allows at the moment. And let's say someone comes and applies for a loan. They qualify for what's normal right now, 8 to 10% interest rate. We would pull funs from that fund that you allocate to and give them a 2% 3% 4% rate whatever you all decide to do for the borrower to help them get a better interest rate. It helps them with cash flow. It's more lucrative. Um unfortunately uh as you all maybe in your personal life still wants a 3% mortgage rate. Those co days are gone and we still get a lot of requests for that. So this would help again your small business community with cash flow and um helping them obtain loans at a better interest rate. Um so the estimate or example here is 150,000 for the buy down program. This would help ballpark 20 to 25 businesses. The average loan size if we get a loan of 25,000 50,000 or 100,000 the subsidy is the amount the small business borrower would um keep or save. So they would save 3,300 in this example, 6,500 $50,000 loan, which again helps them um with their monthly payments. Um so again, the budget fit um would be up to you all the realistic sizing based on the latest city budget. I pulled up some figures from online. I don't know if they are correct or not, but again, these are just pilot programs or examples for you all to review. Um decide if you want to participate or not. Um and then we can be in discussion about that. Um so how would the implementation work? Um it would be 60 90 days. Week one and two approve allocation execute the agreement. Week three and four we would

finalize underwriting criteria and marketing. Um week five and six we would start open opening application. We would have a launch for the small business community maybe with Mr. Josees at the Chayu Apadaka Center. Um so it would be great for again your business um and the local community of support. Um so why invest in us? We are again a small business CDFI. Uh we lend money to small business owners. We're homegrown. We're El Paso. Um we're in downtown. We're part of the community foundation. I don't want to take too much time. It's a long night. So does anybody have any questions?

Do any members of council like to ask any questions? any comments? I think that um I I would have you continue uh attending our small business uh meetings because there is there is a need and every time a small business closes down here in Sakoro, it's because we didn't do enough as a community to help that business survive. Yeah. And we get the complaints all the time. Um um but if you can do something, obviously

I'm going to give you my phone so you can get all the complaints. I'm joking. Um, but no, I I think that this is something good because you know what, the the traditional loan rates right now from uh financial your traditional banking institutions aren't aren't what you guys are are able to offer. And I think that this is the information that we need to be presenting to our small businesses here. Yes, definitely. Again, I I get complaints. One of the complaints is like, well, we see all these logistics centers. What about us? What about the mom and the pop business? But again, I'll review it. Um, we'll be in touch and hopefully we can do something for the small. I do have a question. Yes. Uh, how do you promote it with the community other than with us?

Well, we're old school. We go knock on doors. We do have We would have events. Uh, I would think of Mr. Jose Konis if you're familiar with him. I have to tell you off the DACA. We would have a launch which social media launch campaign if you will. Um, but that's the the things we've been doing. We do have a program with the town of Anthony, Texas. They allocated $50,000 to their small business community. So, we're launching that right now at the moment. It's in their have been knocking on the doors. We're doing two workshops for the small business community there um to get the word out. So, the town of Anthony Texas has allocated some funds. Thank you. I really appreciate that. As Sakoro is expanding and yes,

you know, we want our community to continue growing and and our residents to have this available for them. So, thank you so much. Any other questions? Any other questions on the table? Appreciate you. Thanks so much.

All right. See you gentlemen. Thank you. So we're going to move on to agenda item number eight. This is also a presentation regarding the statistical analysis of data obtained from all motor vehicle stops conducted by the Sakuro Police Department to the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement 2024 racial profiling report. Good evening. Robert Roas, proud chief of police for the city of Sakor. So, I'm going to give a presentation. It's required uh per legislation or per law uh to give this presentation to the governing body of any local uh police agency. So, it's a 2025 racial profiling report. The background uh article 2B2131 of the CCP requires that police officers or peace officers in the state of Texas cannot engage in racial profiling. Furthermore, on the next subchapter, it states that what we have to do is we have to compile certain statistics related to the race, the ethnicity, whether a search was conducted, uh, and if a search was conducted, if there was contrabound found, what type of contraband was found, if force was used, the location of the stop, and the reason for the stop.

So, we've submitted and it's been accepted. The uh report for 2025 to Tiko. Tikico is the governing body of the piece of our peace officer license. In um having to do two things at once in 2025, the Seore Police Department conducted 6,33 traffic stops during 2025. And then we'll move into charts, which will kind of be a breakdown, and it's in your backup if you're not able to see it. But out of all those 6,000 stops that we we've conducted nearly 71% were on uh city streets, excuse me. 13 were on county roads, 9% was on state highways, 2% on US highways, and then uh 6% on uh private property. And then of those stops, 99.8% of those stops, the officers were not aware of the race that they were stopping. And then of those stops, 88% were Hispanic or Latino, 0.29% were Alaskan or Native American, and then uh.14 were Asian or Pacific Islander, 2% were black, and 10% were white. And also this is based on what the obser the officer's observations are. Uh we don't necessarily ask questions as to uh their their race. It's what their perception is or what the officers see at the time of the traffic stop. Regarding gender, you'll see that there was 87% of our stops were uh male and then of those stops the and then 88% were female. So of all those stops right

the two genders you have 87% male and 88% uh of female reason for stop kind of this one is kind of a a different graph that you can see um there's several different reasons that we can conduct a motor vehicle stop and that's uh defined in in the CCP so violation of law pre-existing knowledge moving violation and vehicle traffic violation. So you'll see that uh we've correlated the race and then also the reason for the stop uh identifying the reason for the stop. Out of all those stops, 96% resulted in no search at all. Right? So in other words, the officer did a traffic stop, the officer identified the violation, the officer either issued a uh a warning or a citation or in some cases an arrest. But out of all of those you'll see that a vast majority they were not searched. Uh 4% were searched and then we'll discuss those a little bit further on. So the reasons for search out of that excuse me out of that 4% is over 45% were consensual searches. So the officer asked for consent the the person was uh agreed to the to the search. Then you have contraband and plain view. This is when the officer sees something that is uh inherently illegal and allows them the probable cause to continue the search. And then there's also probable cause. And then one uh less than 5% is inventory. And then a little bit over 5% is incidental arrest. So in other words, they were arrested quite possibly on a warrant or a uh other kind of an offense and then when they conducted the search, they were able to a uh additional contraband.

The contraband that's discovered as a result of this search uh 52% you'll see that you have a a yes and a no. 52% were Hispanic, 4% were white, and 2% were black. And again, it kind of correlates to the amount of stops that we're doing. If you go back to the earlier slide, we talked about the majority of the stops that the Sakor Police Department conducts are on Hispanic uh males and females. And then also because that's a representation of our community out of that contraband. These are the different things or the different dispositions. Over 55% were drugs or that were uh recovered uh no currency, no weapons. And then you have a little bit over 10% or it was alcohol. Some were stolen property and then other other could be uh things like u contraband as far as drug paraphernalia, right? So maybe a vape pin that previously cond uh held some sort of narcotic or items like that. U maybe even uh empty pipes, things like that. the result of the stop. You'll see that a vast majority of the stops that the officers conduct here in Sakoro result in a verbal warning or a written warning. Now, we've kind of gone away from the written warning. We want them all issuing written uh I'm sorry, we've gone away from verbal warnings and we've tried to issue uh written warnings so that there is some sort of documentation that the person has that they did interact with the police. Uh in in certain climates, it's very important for that to make sure that they can uh either if they have a complaint or they have some kind of issue, they're able to have that record of it happening. The verbal warning, you'll see that we still had 79 that were actually uh resulted in in a in a verbal warning. That's usually what hap what happens there is our software malfunctioned. So, we're on the side of the road, we conduct a traffic

stop, we're trying to issue a written warning, and then our our software takes uh a break, I guess you could say, and we're not able instead of keeping that person there calling another unit in, what they've decided is they they've cut uh they they pretty much just document that their e ticket is not working to the dispatcher and then they release that person to the street. And then you'll see that 1,700 resulted in citations. Um 32 were a written warning and an arrest, 29 were a citation and arrest and 11 resulted in arrest uh alone. The reason for arrest is explained here where you have violation of penal code, you have violation of traffic law and violation of city ordinance and then you have outstanding warrants. You'll see that a big majority is uh of people who have outstanding warrants. Very very few times do we ever arrest for a traffic law or traffic uh infraction and even fewer do we ever arrest for city ordinance. The other ones would be a violation of a penal code. That could be a driving while intoxicated. that could be that to that that sort of offense or even a possession of control substance. Uh traffic stops in previous years. This is how we compare to uh previous years. In 2022, you'll see that it was uh higher. 2023, it took a bit of a dip. Last year, it took a significant dip. And then this year, we built it right back up over 6,000. this year uh in comparison to last year we had zero racial profiling complaints. This is compiled with our uh internal affairs uh and we're able to we're able to monitor in real time. In fact, when we were compiling this I was able to recall that we didn't have any uh previous year we had we did have one and then previous to that we've had one as well. They're very very small percentage that actually uh that that complaints that actually come and then police department is going to continue to follow the We're going to

continue to make sure that we are tracking all of our our stats when it comes to motor vehicle stops and any other requirements thereby to that is my presentation unless you have any other questions. No, this is great information. Thank you, Chief. Appreciate it.

Hey, Chief. Um, I'm going to ask a question, but and the only reason why I'm going to ask it is is um if there's anything that we can do um from a government standpoint to help educate and and maybe if there's some type of campaign that needs to be launched, uh what would it be? But and I know it may not reflect here on the racial profiling report, but how like the stops that occur within our jurisdictional boundaries. Do is there a tracking method to show you know X amount is our residents or those just passing through?

So there isn't currently a mechanism actually I I I changed my my answer. Yes, there is. So when we are actually conducting a traffic stop, we have to collect the data anyways, right? So, in data, I mean name, uh, address, zip code,

zip code, and and we're able to go back and filter that data. So, I absolutely could could, uh, tell you how many are residents and and how many are non-residents. And, and to further expand on that, all of our traffic stops are documented to include even the traffic stops that I do, right? So, they're they're documented in our computer aated dispatch with dispatch. So, they're they're put out over the air. And then in addition to that, we have our body cams and then we have E ticket systems. So there's three different methods in which we are making sure that those stops are recorded and that is for transparency and accountability. Um I can only speak for the police department. So so I can tell you that that our stops are documented. Uh usually when we do get complaints and they do happen, we'll get complaints. We're able to find out exactly who that officer was uh that did the traffic stop. We're able to look at the CAD call. We're able to listen to the radio traffic. we're able to to watch the body cam and then we're able to watch and see what the disposition is. So, there are many many levels of verification to ensure that those stops are legitimate and that we and again we do take any complaints uh very very serious and we do look into them. I appreciate that. And I think everyone here likes the uh the written warning like you mentioned. It it shows the interaction that took place between um that individual and one of our police officers uh for whatever reason, you know.

No, and that was something that we we implemented uh back when I came in in uh back in 2023 was there was still some verbal warnings that were going out. Uh a vast majority actually were occurring that way. we they were still tracking the way that the law requires u but what what happens with the written warning is we're able to put out hey this is who stopped you this is where they work for this is where you can file a complaint these are the numbers right so it goes back to transparency and accountability and we make sure that they have that we don't necessarily give out long citations or longwritten warnings anymore we give QR codes which are like little business cards now with the advent of QR readers what happens is the uh the viol the the person who stopped is able to use their cell phone. They're able to scan that and it brings it up as a PDF on their side of the phone. Um in in addition to that, when they do have an interaction with us, we put their phone number, we put an email address if they're if they want to give us the email address. Sometimes they refuse both, but what we do is uh the system that we actually purchase or the system that we use actually sends out a survey to the the person in uh how the officer treated them, how they felt the stop was, was it professional, was it not? Um, many times we do get complaints because people received a citation and they're not necessarily happy about receiving that citation. Um, but the questions aren't necessarily are you happy that you received a citation, but they're more of uh were you treated professionally? Uh, how was the officer's demeanor and and and things of that sort. Yeah, it's kind of hard to get good feedback on a survey when they you just received a citation, but we we get it.

I I will tell you though, I mean, in my history, both uh previous to uh the city of Sakoro and now, when you reach out to somebody and you explain, look, I'm I'm reaching out to to you because I want to know how our officer acted on the side of the road. I'm not here to dispute the citation. I'm not here to uh to take it off or to even hear that issue. What I want to know is how was our officer's demeanor? How how did they treat you? And you'll be, believe it or not, they're pretty honest, right? They're pretty honest and saying, "Hey, you know what? They were professional or they did act like this a certain way." Uh, and and we kind of derive from there. And to kind of further elaborate, our uh our supervisors actually do body cam audits of interactions throughout the uh the month. Every month they the officers or the supervisors are supposed to look at their subordinates to look at their body cams to audit them and they want to see how their interactions are. In addition to that, uh we're we're we're call we're also making sure that we're doing the same thing with any traffic stops. I've already explained that to the to the supervisors that many times people are going to be upset because they received the citation, but that's not what we're here to dispute. We just want to know that we are acting in a professional manner. And I will tell you that the overwhelming majority of our interactions with the with the public and our residents are positive and uh and our officers are acting in a very professional manner. Good.

Appreciate that, Chief. Um any more questions or comments for Chief? No. All right, Chief Roas. Thank you. Okay, we're going to move on to uh consent agenda. Motion to approve consent agenda. Second. Second. There's a motion and a second to consent. All those in favor say I. I. I. Okay. We're going to move into the regular agenda. And would anyone like to entertain a motion to move items 28 and 29 um up on the agenda? Motion to move up item 28 and 29.

Second and 30. And I want to add also item 32 32 and 33 since u Mr. Gal and Ralph are here for the like to move them up. Okay. So we have 32. So items 28 29 32 33 and 34. Gotcha. Okay. There was a motion to move items 28 29 32 33 and 34. Motion and second. All those in favor say I. I. That motion carries. We're going to go ahead and start with agenda item number 28.

So, agenda item number 28. This is uh to discuss and consider acting on a resolution directing publication of notice of intention to issue up to $15 million in combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation to provide funds for streets. uh and sidewalks and park improvements, a new solid waste disposal system, and resolving other matters relating to the subject. Motion to approve. Second.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. This item is asking for approval on January 15th. This item um is the next step in the process to request approval resolution directing the publication of a notice of intent to issue up to $15 million in combination tax and revenue certificate of obligations. The proposed funding would support street and sidewalk improvements, park improvements, and a new solid waste disposal system. This is a required procedural step and does not authorize the issuance of debt. At this time, Mr. Robert Deharina will provide a brief presentation regarding the notice of intent and the proposed process. Following the presentation, council may discuss and consider action to approve the resolution. Mr.

Thank you, Miss For. Uh, Mayor Cruz, council members, again for the record, Robert Tarina with Tahharina Financial Consulting, the city's financial advisor. And also on the Zoom call is Miss Angela Aila, bond council for McCall Parkers, uh, representing the city. If you turn to page two on the slide here, as the city manager stated, the project, street, sidewalk, solid ways, those are some of the items that the funds will be used for. uh for a total amount estimated about 15 million and the preliminary financing cost which includes the attorney general uh financial advisor, bond council, bond insurance, bond rating, etc. is about $186,420. If you turn to page three on the presentation, we have the city's property values going from left to right on column B. Currently the city's value is at about 2.4 billion. We show no future growth on column B after fiscal year 26. And on column D we have the city's existing debt. And that existing debt is principal and interest that the city has issued over the years. Uh it consists of financings from back in 2016 to as recent as 2022. The interest rates on those financings range from 0% to about 2.6%. Uh the principle and interest on the estimated 15 million that we're currently considering is on column E. It's about $1.1 million and change for about 20 years. We're estimating to sell the bonds anywhere with a maturity of 20 to 25 years. And we're estimating an interest rate for this financing of about 4.11%.

Now on column I and J, the city's current INS tax rate is about 9.75 cents. Uh selling the bonds about 15 million. Next year's expected INS tax rate increase is about 4.7 cents. We won't know exactly what the INS uh increase will be until this summer. Uh say about July once the city's final certified values come in, we can plug that number on column B, row 13 for next fiscal year. And if it's anything like the current fiscal year, which the values grew about 10%, we're expecting a slightly lower increase instead of 4.7 to probably slightly less for next fiscal year 2027. The first payment will not occur again until fiscal year 27, roughly March of 27 and September of 27. If you turn to page four, on page four, we have the timetable events. Again, this evening, as the city manager stated, uh just considering uh proving the notice of intent to have the publication posted in the newspaper for two consecutive weeks. If this item is approved, the publication first date will be February the 15th and the second date will be February the 22nd, both on Sundays. We bold and uh a couple of key dates there throughout the timetable on this financing. Uh on March the 19th, the city will have the first reading of the certificates obligation ordinance as required by the city. We plan to price the bonds on April the 16th. And at that evening, the council meeting will meet to consider the financing

as final. The interest rate will be locked in. the principal and interest payments will be fixed. There'll be no adjustments and again it the maturity could be 20 to 25 years. So at that date, April the 16th is when the council will be considering approving the financing as final. And if it is approved that evening on April the 16th, the city will receive the bond proceeds, the $15 million on May the 14th. Turn to page five. On page five we have the issuer city of Sootoum financial advisor bond council maul Parkerson Horton Miss Angela's represent firm underwriters uh we have talked to the city manager the two underwriting firms be Piper Sandler and company and FHN financial underwriters council will be determined they will be selected by uh the underwriting firm Piper and Sandler the underwriters council represents the two underwriters and the investors that are going to consider loaning the funds to the city. The paying agent will be BKF. The bond rating will be with standard and pores and the city's current bond rating is A. And we look to hope to maintain that same rating. And the bond insurance companies, we're going to request and submit documents legal and financial to the bond insurance company. And we don't know who the winning bid will be until roughly the week before given give or take about April the 9th. We'll know the winning bid from the bond insurance companies. And a bond insurance company is uh for a cost. They will insure the bonds for the city in case the city ever comes into a difficult fiscal year where you cannot make your bond insur your in your bond payments. the city will kick

in and help you make those bond payments on your behalf. And again, we won't know until about a week before, give or take around April the 9th, uh, to see who would the winning bid will be. I know, mayor, this is a lot of information, but any questions from yourself or the council members or staff? Yeah, I have a question about the the pain agent. BKF is is um that that's acronym for for what now? Uh Bank of Oklahoma. That's I was going to say they're out of Oklahoma, right? B.

Yes, sir. The BKF they're bank out of Oklahoma. Uh the paying agent as you as you know would their role is strictly only to send invoices to the city on a semianual basis letting the city know you have a bond payment due on March. uh you have a bond payment due on September here the dollar amounts for each and they the city will wire the funds to the paying agent and the paying agent will disperse those funds to the investors.

Very well. Do any members of council have any questions at this time during the presentation? Do we have that uh uh power slides? You're asking if if that's in the backup of our I didn't find them. I couldn't find them in my backup. Um just so that we can look at the other presentation.

Miss Aila, is there anything you'd like to add?

Um sure. Um hi, good evening everyone, mayor and council members. Just for the record, I'm Angela Aila. work with MCL Parkers and Horton. Um I'd like to add I'm a fellow Pasoan. So thank you for having me. It's an honor to be a part of this transaction. U Mr. Thiharina was very thorough. Um so I'd just like to add um on the legal side, this notice of intent resolution, like M. Rodart mentioned, is essentially just the first step in conformance with state law. So you will not be issuing issuing debt if you decide to proceed tonight. Um also along with the resolution you'll see um that the notice of intention is included as exhibit exhibit A. It sets the maximum amount dollar that will be issued. So the city if it decides to issue less can do so. It just cannot exceed that amount. Um and it also includes the projects um that MRO described. Um, in addition to the notice being published in a newspaper, general circulation for two consecutive weeks, it will also go on the city's website for at least 46 days um, prior to coming back on April 16th um, to consider formally authorizing the issuance of the certificates. Um, and then the last thing I'd like to add is um, I'm not too sure if the notice in your packet reflects the sale date of April 16th. I believe we had originally um plugged in April 2nd, but just in case that isn't reflected in your resolution, I just want to make it clear that the sale date would be April 16th. Um and that's all I have for you unless you have uh questions for me.

Any questions or comments from council? Thank you. You can continue uh with the presentation unless there's anything else. No, sir. That concludes my presentation and mayor and council members Angela and I appreciate the opportunity uh to present this evening. Thank you. We appreciate that. Okay. So, as there's no further comment or questions for this item, we're going to go ahead and move into agenda item number four. Mayor, we don't have Oh, I'm sorry. This is an action item, right? Right. Yes. Please vote. There was a uh there was a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose or abstain? No, that motion carries. Okay, now we can move on to agenda item 29. Thank you. Thank you, Mary. Y'all have a great night. Thank you all. Thank you all. I'll stay on for the next item. Yeah, you might want to. So, item 29 is uh to discuss and consider engaging McCall Parkhurst and Horton LLP to provide the bond council services to the city of Sakoro. Motion to approve.

Second. Good evening, Mayor Council. This item is requesting approval to engaging McCall Parkers and Horton LLP to provide bond council services to the city of Saporo in connection with a certificate of obligation process. Bond council will assist the city with legal guidance, preparation of required documents and ensuring compliance with all state and federal requirements related to the issuance of debt. And staff and the consultants are here to answer any questions. Any questions for the consultants? No. No comments? No. Okay. Well, there was a motion and second on this item. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose abstain. And that motion carries. Thank you. Thank you all. Have a good evening. Have a good night.

Okay. We're going to move into agenda item number uh 32. and I'll give everyone a a chance to get to that item. But this is this item here is um bring it up here. This is um Representative Cordderero's item. and uh I'll go ahead and let her present her item agenda item 32.

This was going to be discussion and action to approve the appointment of Rafael Caro to the planning and zoning commission six. We need a motion to uh yes we do. Um motion to approve. Second. Okay. So, there's a uh motion and a second on the table uh to go ahead and appoint Mr. Rafael Gario to the Planning and Zoning Commission. All those in favor say I. I. That motion carries. Mayor, can you just tell me who made the motion? Uh yeah. So, Mr. Reyes made the motion. I second. And Mr. Garcia second. Thank you.

And I thirded. Um are we going to be swearing in today this evening as well? Yes. Okay. Okay. Yeah. We'll go ahead and present 33, Miss Gordo. Item number 33. Discussion and action to approve the appointment of Caro to the board of adjustment. Please fight. Motion to approve. Second. So, there's a motion made by Mr. Reyes, second by Mr. Garcia. All those in favor say I. I.

That motion carries as well. And uh agenda item number 34. We're going to go ahead and swear in our newly appointed commissioners at this time. Um, Miss Navaro, do you want to swear them in for us? Would you like to?

Yeah, we can do them together at the same time. Are you two related somehow? Raise your right hand. Will you raise your right hand? Repeat after after me. I state your names. Do solemnly swear or affirmly swear that I have not directly or indirectly paid that I have not directly or indirectly paidirect,

offered, promised to pay. contributed or promised to contribute any money or thing of value or promised any public or employment as a reward to secure my appointment as confirmation there. Okay. I state your names. do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the duties

of the office of the board of adjustments and planning and zoning commission of the city of Sooto, Texas and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of the

state. We'll be looking.

All right, we're going to go ahead and and begin with uh the rest of the regular agenda items with number 12. This is a public hearing of an ordinance for the proposed amendment to the city of Sooto's master plan and resoning of track 12A1 block 2 Soro grant located near Bowman Road, Sooto, Texas from A1 agricultural to R2 medium density residential to allow for the development of a multi-family residential uh lot lots and it is uh 7:01 p.m. and the public hearing is now open.

No speakers, ma'am. Okay, as there are no speakers, we're going to go ahead and close the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. Agenda item number 13. This is the second reading adoption of an ordinance for the proposed amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and reszoning of track 12A1 block 2 Soro grant located near Bowman Road, Sakoro, Texas, from A1 agricultural to R2 medium density residential to allow for the development of multifamily residential lots.

Motion to approve. Good evening, mayor and council. Loren Kimito, city planner. Item number 13 is a resoning request. The property owner and representative Clint Holdings Company LLC to answer any questions is available on call to answer any questions as well. The property is 21.35 acres in size. agricultural 81. It is vacant, undeveloped and future land use map recommends this area urban residential. In summary, the request is for the approval of a resoning of property from A1 agricultural to R2 medium density residential to allow for multi- family residential development. Planning and zoning staff recommends approval. zoning commission voted for approval at their January 6th meeting unanimously with four members present. The property is located. It is currently zoned agricultural surrounded by C1 commercial zoning aging. land. This is a zoomed out view of the adjacent development and an image showing the vacant property as well as a mix of residential property

owners within 200 ft. of the applicant were notified of the request. We did receive a letter which was neither in favor or against the request. They merely stated some concerns regarding infrastructure access for access. This is a general development plan. It does not show the future layout of the development or the layout of the future multif family homes that would be uh proposed. But for the zoning it is again from A1 to medium density. the development. This generalized platform does show the extension of Leonur from the existing subdivision to the uh south up through to connect to B. In summary, the request is for approval of a zoning for property from A1 to medium density resative and engineer are here to answer any questions as well.

Does council have any questions or comments on on this item? How many? I don't think the plans are set yet. multi multi.

Yes,

we got to get at the mic if we have a master plan. You look at it and the orange on the bottom is the property that we acquired. It is next to an existing neighborhood. There's a dead end street there. So, we'll be extending that street all the way to the new exit to the freeway and then we'll be extending another street to the bottom that will go into the neighborhood that will give access to other properties that are basically right now. So, we're doing a lot of connectivity. The good thing about this one is, and you'll see further up, we're building a five lane road all the way to the people that live there are not going to go down. They're going to go come back home. So, this really makes a very good location. We're going to have five commercials. We're already talking to a national Mr. Aides from the West Texas chop house that you guys are going to be bringing.

No, I shouldn't say that V, but um we appreciate you going above and beyond just developing the residential areas because what what Soro residents are looking for is they want to see more retail. They want to see the restaurant industries moving in. Um we're tired of of having to exit Soro to go experience that. So, thank you. But we already that's that's good to hear. Um the the letter that our our u planning and zoning department received um I know addressed some of those uh

No, no, no. I just want to make sure that through this development here uh we're able to address some of those concerns and I think one of them was having to drive on the embankments of irrigation ditches that that's not going to be an issue anymore for these residents. Correct.

I district put in they're actually being generous with the amount of property that we So we can have a That's great to hear. And that was going to be my next question also on in regards to the concerns with the residents, but if that's going to be something that will will alleviate I'm looking at that little red piece up there uh that connects to Trans Park. We we really need that because I think that's county that's county property and we really really could use the county's help and in and gaining access to that, right? I I truly believe.

Okay. We'll continue those conversations outside. Um there was a motion and second on this item unless there's any more questions or comments for uh this item here. Uh there was a motion and second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any oppose or abstain? That motion carries. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay, we're moving on to agenda item number 14. This is a public hearing of an ordinance for the amendment to the city of Sakoto's master plan and reszoning of track 1 A 1 A-1 1B 1-B 2 and 12D block 2 track 9A and 10A block one Soro grant and Lee Clark survey 298 what is that the ABST Abstract. Is it abstract?

Okay. Abstract 6262 track 42 located near the intersection of Bowman Road and North Loop Drive, Sakoroto, Texas from A1 Agricultural and C2 general commercial to R2 and C2 medium density residential and general commercial. a variance from section 38-52.3 street design standards general planning to allow a reduced minimum rightway of 54 feet instead of the 60 ft minimum right away a variance for street width of 76 feet instead of the 90 ft minimum rightway and a variance from section 46-262 area requirements to allow for the lot sizes to vary from 5,000 square feet to 5,999 square for residential development and commercial uses in support of the surrounding development. It's 7:12 p.m. and public hearing is now open.

No speakers.

I was hoping there was after reading that long item. Is there no speakers? We're going to close it at 7:13 p.m. Agenda item number 15. This is the second reading and adoption of an ordinance for the amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and resoning of tract 1A 1A-1 1B 1B-2 and 12D block 2 track 9A and 10A block one SKO grant and Lee Clark survey 298 abstract 6262 track 42 located near the intersection of Bowman Road and North Loop Drive Sakoro Texas from A1 agricultural and C2 general commercial to R2 and C2 medium density residential uh general commercial a variance from section 38-52.3 street design standards general planning to allow a reduced minimum rightway of 54 feet instead of the 60 foot minimum rightway a variance for street width of se 76 feet instead of the 90 foot minimum rightway and a variance from section 46-262 area requirements to allow for lot sizes to vary from 5,000 ft to 5,999 ft² for residential development and commercial uses in support of the surrounding development.

Motion to approve. Go ahead. Thank you, Mayor. I'll take it.

This is item number 15, the Bowman Reszoning and requests. The property owner is Clint Land holdings company LLC also the representative Mr. Eart is present to answer any questions as well as Mr. from CA the engineer who is joining us via Zoom. This property is zone A1 agricultural and C2 general commercial. The property is vacant and the future land use map designates the area as medium density residential, agricultural and regional commercial. I won't reread the introduction, but the request is uh for reszoning to a uh M2 R2 residential, medium density residential and uh commercial. Planning and zoning staff recommends approval of the request and the planning and zoning commission voted for approval with three yeses, zero nos, and zero extensions at their planning and zoning meeting dated December of 2025. So this item is related to the previous item and was actually heard by the planning and zoning commission before your last item. This is the property located um between the interstate and right up against our city limits. The highlighted area in black denotes the area for this resoning request. It is A1 agricult and and commercial in red. The future land use map designating areas as I mentioned in the introduction and the showing.

These are photographs taken from the green canal. Property owners were notified of the reserv. This is the development plan that was presented to the planning and zoning commission. You will notice that it is different than the one that was displayed by Under the previous items, there was uh some changes due to purchases and the request is being modified to change the central commercial that's surrounded by the green toward the middle of the photograph to just all res. So the development as mentioned now the resial just the resial development along with the required funding parks and the connectivity that Mr. So the amended reasoning request would just be to go from A1 agricultural commercial to simply R2 medium density res. In summary, the request is for approval of variances and variances of a property from A1 agricultural and C2

and I can go back to any of the slides if you have any further questions and need clarification. Do any members of council have any questions or comments on this item here? What are you bringing here? Can you go back to the other side?

What are you bringing here?

What is it that you're bringing here? What is it that you're going to be doing? commercial area. We People want Um, the will the um will the lot on

going from Bombman all the way up to I 10 are those all designated for commercials like you said you mentioned none are residential But I'm talking about the actual bombing going up

straight So those those lateral sides, they're all commercial. They're not they're not residential like you said that you won't have anybody backing up. Okay, I see. Okay, I got it. Thank you. Any other questions or comments on this item? Thank you. I'm excited. Yes. I second that. There was a a motion and second on this item. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose or abstain? That motion carries. Thank you.

Mr. I3. Yeah, I I started we um we moved items uh 22 and 23 um before 16. Before 16. So, we we've already taken care of of 22. Did we take care of 22 already? No, not yet. All right. We're going to move into agenda items 22. We need a motion first, May to move item 22 and 23. Would anyone like to entertain the motion to move item to move into item 22 and 23? Motion to move items 22 and 23. Second.

All those in favor say I. I. That motion carries. So we'll move into agenda item 22. This is a public hearing of an ordinance for the amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and resoning of a portion of track 2 block 3 So grant located near Horizon Boulevard, Sakoroto, Texas from C2 general commercial to R2 medium density residential to allow for the development of single family residential lots. It's now 7:23 p.m. and public hearing is now open.

No speakers, m. Okay, as there are no speakers, we'll close it at 7:23 p.m. as well. Agenda item 23. This is the second reading and adoption of an ordinance for the amendment to the city of Soooro's master plan and reszoning of a portion of track 2 block 3 Soro grant located near Horizon Boulevard Sakoro Texas from C2 general commercial to R2 medium density residential to allow for the development of a single family residential lot. Motion to approve. Second.

Thank you. Thank you, mayor and councel. The next item is a reasonzoning request. This is for a portion of track two block three. Property owner is Bowling Brother Development Company LLC. Their representative is a good group who is on the call to answer any questions that you may have. The property is 24 acres in size and currently zoned C2 commercial. The land is currently vacant and the future land use mapates the area as industrial commercial use. The summary of the requested for approval of property from C2 to R2 planning and zoning commission recommends approval of the request for approval. Yes. This is the property outlined in yellow currently zoned or um commercial and the future land use map designating the industrial condition commercial mix. This is A another view of the zoning map with subdivisions. This is Horizon Park unit 2. You have already visited and and approved Horizon Park unit one. Horizon Park unit one A. This is a continuation of that master plan. The aerial photograph shows the vacant land and the site photographs are taken from the adjacent property.

Mr. Mr. Escobar can also answer any questions that you might have. As this is a zoning and public hearing, notice were sent out to property owners within 200 ft of the property and no notices were received either in favor or against the request. This is the development plan showing the residential lots and infrastructure connecting this uh second unit to unit one across the um with that. In summary, the requested for approval of a resoning for property from C2 medium density res. And with that, staff can answer any questions. Can the representative and the engineer here to answer any questions as well?

Any questions or comments for Miss Kamo or the representative? Okay, there was a motion and second on this item. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose or abstain? That motion carries. Thank you. Uh, now we are going to go back to agenda item 16. This is the public hearing of an ordinance approving a preliminary plat for Horizon Park unit 2 subdivision being tracks 2, 3B, 3B5, and 4E1A block 3, Sakoro Grant, and located near Horizon Boulevard, Sakoro, Texas. It's now 7:27 p.m. And public hearing is now open. No speakers.

Thank you. As there are no speakers, we're going to go ahead and close the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. as well. Agenda item 17. This is the second reading and adoption of an ordinance approving a preliminary plat for Horizon Park unit 2 subdivision being tracks 2, 3B, 3B5, and 4E1A block 3 Soro Grant and located near Horizon Boulevard, Sakoro, Texas. Motion to approve.

Mayor and council, thank you. Good evening. Item 17, Horizon Park, unit 2, subdivision preliminary plan. So this is a continuation of your previous item with it being zoned uh to the proper zoning. The item for your consideration is a preliminary plat. The property owner Bowling Brothers Development Company LLC, their representative with CE and Mr. Escobar, both present to answer any questions that you may have. The lot is a little over 30 acres in size and zoned uh by your previous action R R2. The current land use is vacant and the request is for approval of a pre preliminary plat for Horizon Park unit 2. Planning and zoning staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat for Horizon Park unit 2 with the condition that all engineering comments are addressed prior to submitting the final plat for approval. The planning and zoning commission voted for approval through yeses, one no uh no nos and one extension at their January December 16th. This is the zoning map highlighted in yellow is the applicant property. The map shows the vacant property surrounded by vacant property and what is the development of Horizon Park and A. These are the site pictures showing the vacant land and the preliminary plat for Horizon Park unit 2. The residential the infrastructure and park and It meets all of the subdivision standards. In summary, the request for approval of

a preliminary park subdivision with the condition that all engineering comments are addressed prior to submitting that answer questions as well. Are any questions on this item here? Okay, there was a motion and second on this item. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose or abstain? That motion carries.

Agenda item number 18. This is the public hearing of an ordinance approving a final plat for the floor devosque subdivision being all of tract 11A block 32, Sanio Grand, El Paso County, Texas, and located near Patunia Drive. It's 7:30 p.m. and the public hearing is now open. No speakers, m. As there are no speakers, we're going to go ahead and close the public hearing at 7:31 p.m.

Agenda item number 19. This is the second reading and adoption of an ordinance approving a final plat for the floor del Rio, I'm sorry, floor deloske subdivision being all of tract 11A, block 32, Sanisario Grant, El Paso County, Texas, and located near Petunia Drive. Motion to approve. Second.

Thank you again, Mayor Council. Uh the next item is a final plat subdivision property owners delo LLC. The representative Okay. So, there was a motion. She's making her presentation.

Thank you. The property owner, Florida Rio LLC, representative CA Group, Mr. is on the call to answer any questions that you may have. The lot is a little over 82 acres in size and not zoned because it is outside of the city limits but within our 2 mile ETJ. The current land use is vacant. And in summary, the request is for approval of a final for subdivision. Planning and zoning staff recommends approval of the request with the condition that the engineering review comments be satisfied before uh reporting the final myars. And the planning and zoning commission voted for approval unanimously with four members present at their December 16th planning and zoning commission meeting. The uh location map shows in purple the city of ETJ and the portion of the that falls within the city of the image shows the vacant land and the surrounding vacant land and residential development photographs show the vacant land. These photographs were taken from Patunia. This is the final for subdivision, the residential subdivision uh within the city of Maryland. In summary, the request is for approval of a final flat with the condition that the interview comments satisfied before the recording of the final flat. And with that, staff can answer any questions.

Do any members of council have any questions, comments? No. There was a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose or abstain? And that motion carries. Next item is agenda item number 20. This is a public hearing of an ordinance for the amendment to the city of Sooto's master plan and resoning of track 13 block 27 Sooto grant located at 11764 SKO road SKO Texas from A1 agricultural to R2 medium density residential to allow for the development of single family residential lots. It's now 7:34 p.m. and the public hearing is now open.

No speakers. Mayor, Mr. Martinez. Yes, sir. Mayor and council. Good evening, Jim Martinez. I simply wanted to clarify one thing for item 20 and 21. Uh we're there was a change. There was a slight change. We we posted a an agenda on Monday and then we posted a corrected agenda on Tuesday. We are not proceeding on the agenda that was posted on Tuesday. We are proceeding for the entirety of this meeting on the agenda that was posted on Monday. And the item that was posted on Monday was slightly different from the item you read, Mr. Mayor. Go ahead.

The existing zoning is g is agricultural. That's the truth. But notice in the agenda that we published, it incorrectly read that the current zoning is general commercial. That's inaccurate. and we we published a a corrected one the next day, but that didn't give us 72 hours notice, so it doesn't comply with the open meetings act. So, my very simple that's a long way of getting to a very simple point. Uh I would ask the council to make a floor amendment so that item number 20 omits the reference to general commercial and substitutes in its place agricultural.

Okay. So, I I understand what you're saying, uh Mr. Martinez. the the language that reads currently on today's uh agenda item is is stated agricultural, but what was submitted to you uh did not state agricultural. It stated that it's original um um zoning was was general commercial. Is that a It said A1 and then it said general commercial in parenthesis. Okay. So, you just need a um a floor amendment from any member of council to omit that to to omit the phrase general commercial and substitute for it the word agricultural. Yes.

Would any member of council like to make that motion? I'd like to make a motion to omit general commercial and replace it with agriculture. Second. Okay. Thank you. There's a motion made by Mr. Garcia, a second by Miss Corddero. Those in favor say I. I that motion carries. So, we'll go ahead and present the item as as is. Mr. Martinez, do you need me to read uh the public hearing again? No, sir. No. Okay. So, did we did we close public hearing on that already? I'm sorry. The public hearing for uh agenda. Yes, we already you already read it and we had no speakers. We closed it at 7:30.

Very well. Okay. Now, we'll go ahead and present agenda item number 21. And this is the second reading and adoption of an ordinance for the amendment to the city of Sakoro's master plan and reszoning of track 13 block 27 Sakoro grant located at 11764 Sakoro road Sakoro Texas from A1 agricultural to R2 medium density residential to allow for the development of single family residential lots. And mayor again, you you read it slightly different. The item you read is slightly different from the correct from the original agenda that is operative for today that we posted on Monday. I would therefore ask I would therefore recommend that the council make the same floor amendment to item 21 that it made to item 20.

Absolutely. Mr. Martinez, uh would any member of council like to make uh that motion to omit? Yes. I'd like to make a motion to omit uh general commercial general commercial and replace it with agriculture. Agricultural. Second. There was a motion and second on the table. All those in favor say I. I. That motion carries and we'll go ahead and uh have Miss Kim present the item now. Thank you, council. Thank you.

Recommends this area as rural residential. In summary, the request is for approval of a resoning of property from A1 agricultural to R2 medium density residential for the development of single family residential lots. The planning and zoning staff recommend approval of the zoning request. Planning zoning commission voted for approval unanimously with four members present at their December 16th. The property is located off of Saporo uh Saporo Road. It is zone A1 and has R1 residential development to the north and C1 commercial development to the south. Uh this is a zoomed up view of the area showing the city limits and the zoning surrounding zonings. Future land use map designates the area as rural estate. And the aerial image shows the vacant lot and the surrounding residential and rural land uses. These are photographs taken of the property from Saporo Road. and a development plan showing the proposed development for Isabella Valley subdivision made up of 49 49 residential lots and the connections would be through uh onto Sakura Road and then toward the middle of the development. into the adjacent subdivision.

Uh the request is for approval of a proposed resoning of a property from A1 to R2 medium density residential for the development of single family res.

Mayor, we don't have a motion for this item. Motion to approve. Second. Uh, are there any questions uh from any members of council on this item here? I do have a question. Uh, you mentioned that there's 49 uh homes planned. How how big is this area going to be for each home?

Well, you you mentioned The nice part of this Right. No, the concern is the traffic on Soral Road that it would create for Basically, they have no access.

Okay, thank you. Any other questions or comments on this item? No. There was a motion and second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any oppose or abstain? The motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. All right. We're going to go ahead and move on to agenda item number 24. This is the discussion and action regarding the 2026 Independence Day Extravaganza event date and fireworks contract. We're excited.

Good evening, mayor and council. My name is Victoria. I'm your recreation and special events director for the city of Sakoro. As always, it's customary around this time, we do need to go ahead and set out our plans for a very special year. Uh this United States of America is actually turning 250. So, we are celebrating two things this year. Um, fun fact, city of Sakor is turning 40 in April. United States is turning 250 in July. So, I'm coming before you to request approval to go ahead and execute the contract with the preferred vendor. This is a vendor that was not done last year. This is a vendor that we've had before. Uh, just based on the experience, staff does feel that we need to go back to Big Duck Pyro specifically just to their professionalism, excellence, and preparedness when it came to the show. Uh, they also didn't charge us for any added fees regarding permits, inspections or processes. Whereas last year's vendor did add that after the fact. So we're trying to go with the vendor that we've tried. Had really great success with them. The other thing I do want to point out is we are going to work with sponsors to go ahead and lessen the cost for this year's firework show. Um so that way it doesn't come to hit the city. So that is also on the trajectory to save cost. I know that's a big one for the city and we want to be good financial stewards with our residents tax dollars but as well as really good quality of life events as well, which is my job and I hope you see value in that and I hope that I've made you guys proud.

Motion to approve. Second. We're approving Jim for the motion. Do you need the specific vendor and the specific show? Motion to approve staff recommendation of uh Big Boy Pyro for 47,500. 15inut show. There you go. That does it. Mr. Martinez, did you have a question or No, I was addressing um what Victor brought up that that makes it clear specific.

Okay. So, there's a a motion and a second on the table right now for uh the amount of 47,000 47,500. Um, are there any other questions before we we go ahead and take the vote? I I just wanted Mr. R. Uh, real quick, it says as far as getting Where is it?

What what what there was a a small chart. Can you just explain?

So as customer with our financial policy manual as well as our financial procedures, we do need to go out for quotes in order to be competitive to make sure that we're doing things appropriately. So we do have a very limited number of pyrochnic certified technicians in the area. One of which is Jesse Williams that technically does the El Paso Chihuahua show. They are not doing uh any other shows this year. So we did reach out locally and then we did reach out to the gentleman whose name was Raw that did last show and then Big Duck Pyro was show that we did prior to that in 2024. So, that is the vendor that we've had really good success with. The staff had a lot of positive reviews from. There hasn't been any issues from a public safety standpoint or a buyer standpoint. We check all our boxes and they are familiar with the site and the city as well. But that chart is your uh financial uh quote that shows you that we went out for different um quotes and different vendors.

Mr. H a question. came back to me as far as getting the sponsorships. What what are we more or less what are what's uh the amount? So, you have different levels of sponsorships for every kind of business. You can come in at what we call a local level, which is a substantially smaller amount between 800 to a,000. And then we do go after larger amounts like with Tropicana Homes, which has historically provided us at least 10 to 20,000. But all of that does go to your general fund. So you won't see that reflected in my budget. It goes to the general fund. Okay.

So I guess what what a lot of us have have questioned is I know that we see the initial dollar amount a day, but after the sponsorships come in, it's not a direct uh impact. It gets offset with sponsorships, I guess, as we go. And the other thing that offsets that is our cost for permits. So they're not great. So we do charge all of our vendors a spons permitting fee that gets collected by Mina's department. So thank you. Um but that all goes into the event coordination of that and again that doesn't get reflected in our individual department budgets but it does go uh into the general fund. So that's where we collect the money on the back end.

Who was last year's uh sponsor? Rick Holden. Sponsor or firework. Oh the fireworks. provider was Rick Hton LLC. This year staff is recommending we go back with the 2024 vendor which is Big Dog Private based out of Austin, Texas. Uh they are minority owned. So they are in good standings with the state in good signings with more specifically the state license certific certification to make sure they are able to put in a priority. Any other questions or comments for this item? There was a motion and a second on the table. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose or abstain? That motion carries. The next item is agenda item number 25. This is the discussion and action to approve resolution 839 to formally adopt the name of Rio Vista Civic Center for buildings located at the physical address of 901 North Rio Vista Road, Saporo, Texas, 7927. Motion to approve. Second.

Good evening, mayor and council. Victoria, I'm also your historic preservation officer for the city of Sakura. Before you is an item for consideration to go ahead and formally adopt the name the Rubies Civic Center for our entire parcel. I want to go ahead and provide some key points before you guys take your vote. One of which is this does not endanger our historical significance. This is more formality for the intent of what the area is meant to look like. In our master planning, we do want to see this to be more of a civic center. We are already offering meeting space. However, we want to make it a true site that people don't think they can't come here because it's just historical. We do want to make it the town square and the civic center, which we're able to go ahead and maximize its potential and also help the master planning from a planning perspective, the surrounding areas um fields that are currently vacant. So that way we can plan to either see more meeting space if we ever do have a city center uh whether it's a new city hall or new council chambers. It kind of goes and adds to the landscape and the layout. This uh as mentioned doesn't have impact on our historical significance. We still need bats. Um, and we still are obviously proud of that. It's just meant to encompass the entire property. And I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Any questions or comments on the new title change for across the street there? There was a motion and second. All those in favor say I. I. That motion carries. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay, we're going to go ahead and uh bounce back to planning and zoning with agenda item number 26. This is the discussion and an action to approve the approval request of an amendment to the development plan for the Armanos Farms industrial subdivision. The amendment would change the previously approved tree buffer with a new landscape plan. Motion to approve.

Thank you, Mayor Cel. This uh item is presented to you today for consideration of an amendment to farms industrial development development plan. When it was originally approved for reszoning to ICM, the applicant agreed to provide a buffer of pean trees around the property, one to preserve the the trees to provide a buffer to get the adjacent neighbor neighborhoods and the street. Um, and unfortunately as development uh continued from there your approval and the approval of the development plan. The applicant and the engineers met with the various entities outside to discuss the uh project. One of those was the lower valley water district which uh asked the developer to upgrade the existing water uh lines in on North Loop and to move them onto their property. This is also to assist with the future development of an expansion of North uh drive. So this is something that is very much out of the control of the applicant and they did not want to get rid of the trees but where the new line must go. They're going to be disrupting the trees and there would no there wouldn't be any way to save the trees. provide the amend the the upgraded water

lines that the lower valley water district is asking for. Staff recommends approval of the amendment to the development plan. What the applicant is presenting is included in your backup. This would be a landscape plan adding different uh trees to replace the ones that have to Planning and zoning staff recommends approval of the change in the development plan to allow for the new landscape plan. The planning and commission voted for approval through yes, no, and zero extensions at their February 3rd planning and zoning meeting. The applicants are on the phone via Zoom to answer any questions that you might have. And just to refresh your memory, this is the industrial farms development farmers development logistic centers that are being um prepared for currently with the removal of the trees and they are on pause currently awaiting the outcome of your council's action today. The middle bottom depicts that will be uh in place and wherever they can they will try to preserve some of the staff questions but again Mr. Little and Mr. Roberts James Robert are on the phone as well

there any uh questions or comments on this item got a I got a comment um I think I for everyone. We we really like those pean trees and we wish we could keep them, but we also understand that they are a little bit more difficult to take care of. Um it if we're not getting the peon trees, but we're getting some more trees, it's better than than just the removal.

Any other comments or questions? Again, this is not at the request of the council or any of its offices. This is a ility that's required in order for the uh development to continue. Uh there's nothing that this body can do to stop uh the utility easement from coming in on this development. There was a motion and t and a second on the table. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose or abstain? That motion carries.

Moving on to agenda item number 27. This is the discussion and action to approve a supplemental to the consulting agreement with Abel City LLC and authorize a city manager or her designated to execute the supplemental agreement for a time extension and execute the supplemental agreement to the comprehensive creation of a unified development code. There's no financial impact from this action. Motion to approve.

Thank you again, Mayor Council. As mentioned in the reading of the item, this is a supplemental to the consulting agreement with Able City LLC. They are the consultants who uh come on board to help the city staff uh create a new uniform development code. We were set to end and wrap up everything in January. But we do need additional time and that is what we are requesting at this item just to extend the contract for time to the end of April of 2026. There is no financial impact and no additional charge for the time extension.

Any uh questions this item here? There was a motion and second on the table. All those in favor say I. I. That motion carries. Thank you, Miss Kimo. The next item is agenda item number 30. This is the discussion and action to approve mayor and any other council member to travel for TML regional meeting. What is that? Um, that's six. Four. Four. Four. I read in English that's why. in Kermit, Texas on February 20th, 2026. Motion to approve. Second.

Good evening, mayor and council. Adrian, the city manager. This item is requesting approval for travel for mayor or any council members who wish to attend this TML regional meeting uh in Kermit, Texas, scheduled on February 20th. Attendance would involve renting a vehicle and making a same day trip with approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes of travel each way. returning to Sakuroto that evening.

So we Yeah. So there's no taking the the city helicopter. Um this is going to require um as mentioned from our city manager the rental vehicle. And Miss Roto, do you need uh names of of individuals interested in in making this travel uh tonight or you just looking for the approval? approval if you all want to attend and if you don't want to attend no action would be required.

Do you have any other uh questions about uh the regional TML meeting at this time? There was a motion and second. All those in favor say I. I.

That motion carries. Thank you. The next item is agenda item 31 and this is uh one that I wanted to bring to the table to direct staff to procure and contract roadway restoration services uh for lower valley water department's paving cuts contingent upon the interlocal agreement with the lower valley water district. Um, I'll go into my summary. So, as you all know, the city of Sakoto's received multiple uh resident complaints regarding roadway conditions caused by the paving cuts performed by the lower valley water district um as part of the utility work and service connections throughout the city. These paving cuts have remained unressed for an extended period of time and recent rainfall has further deteriorated road roadways and its conditions creating potential safety hazards and increasing reports of vehicle damage. Uh the city staff has repeatedly reported these concerns to the lower valley water district. However, the city has not received sufficient communication or timely corrective action to address the paving cuts in a permanent and consistent manner. So, in order to protect public safety and preserve city infrastructure, uh, the council may consider directing staff to procure and contract roadway restoration services to repair the paving cuts currently impacting city streets. Any city action to perform these repairs would require the lower valley water department to enter into a reimbursement agreement to cover all costs incurred by the city, including labor, materials, contractor costs, administrative time, and any other related expenses. Council may discuss and provide directing uh a direction regarding um number one authorizing staff to initiate procurement for paving cut restoration services in accordance with the city procurement requirements. Um second item

requiring the lower valley water department to enter into a formal written agreement acknowledging the responsibility and agreeing to reimburse in the city for all costs associated with the repairs. establishing reimbursement terms including payment timelines and documentation requirements ensuring the city is not placed in a position of carrying the cost burden of the lower valley water district uh which has not budgeted for these repairs. Uh also to include legal review by the city attorney prior to execution of any agreement. Um at this time I want to open the floor for us to discuss this and why I brought it uh to the table. I'm sure that many of us have received phone calls from our constituents. We know that the payment cuts is something that is required in order for our residents to receive utilities, especially those that are receiving uh new utilities. Uh but I feel that uh these payment cuts, they're not addressed uh in a timely fashion. Uh therefore, we're having to receive the multiple complaints, phone calls, emails, even in writing. So at this time I said you know what our public works department shouldn't be out there uh and we should not be deferring our resources uh to address these issues that are being caused by the uh utility companies. So therefore I wanted to put something in place to where we can actually go out there and contract uh another company come in here and take care of it for us and we'll send that bill over to Lower Valley Water and then they can go ahead and take care of it that way. It's a lot costly. It's time consuming and it's more expensive, but if that's the only way that we're going to be able to address uh the paving cuts in a timely fashion for our residents, then so be it.

If you all want to discuss further, we can go ahead and do that right now on the table. Mayor, we need a motion. Um, is there a motion on the table? There's a motion to deny. Second. There's a motion and a second to deny this this item. Are there any other motions on the table? No. So, there's a motion and a second to deny. All those in favor say I. I.

Okay, that motion's been denied. So, we won't be moving forward with it. Um, so for for this item here, uh, sorry, can we take a a vote, a single vote, individual vote to see who denied and who approved? Yeah. So, we can go down the line. Mr. R, are we can can we discuss a little bit further before we Well, I don't think we can discuss anymore because there's been a motion in the second, but you can still discuss and because that motion might change, right? So, there's a motion on the table. You can discuss it and then you can vote on it. Okay. So, there was a motion to deny made by Miss Corddero and a second made. But you've already voted though.

Yeah. So, it it doesn't matter what's what we discussed. There's already been a motion and a second to deny the item, but we can go ahead and enter into discussion. Okay. Right. Well, no, because you've already voted. No. So, there's no discussion anymore. Unless anybody wants to We could have discussed before taking the vote. Okay. So,

Mr. Martinez, after the uh voting of um mo the motion to deny and the second Um, we have to take the vote as is. Correct. You've got a you've got a motion and a second. Typically, you do have discussion after that, but I thought there was already a vote on that. Did I miss that? No, there was a right. It's not the motion, the second that that create the the end the matter. It's the vote. rather than revote, I would simply ask the clerk. You you can ask your clerk who voted what way.

Y that's what we're going to do now. So, we're going to go down the line and we're going to see who voted for um there was a motion by Miss Cordiero uh to deny this item and then there's a second by Mr. Garcia. By Mr. Garcia and those in favor and we'll go down the line. Mr. Rees, your You vote in favor to deny the way you voted to deny. Um in favor to deny approve. No. No. The motion was to deny. So your vote is yes or no. To deny no. Okay. Mr. Navarez.

Yes. I stay. So it's not. Okay, that motion's denied and we're going to move into items 35, 36, 37. Do we have any of those items for discussion? No. No. Okay. Yes, sir. Mr. Martinez? Yes, sir. None. Okay. Would anyone like to entertain the motion to adjurnn? We need a motion to delete 35, 36. Delete 35, 36, and 37. Second. There's a motion to delete items 35, 36, and 37. All those in favor say I. I. That motion carries. Have a motion to adjurnn.

Motion to adjurnn. Second. This meeting adjourns. There's a motion and second on the table to adjurnn. All those in favor say I. I. The meeting adjourns at 8:06 p.m. Thank you. Thank you.