City Council - Regular Meeting

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behind you. Everybody would please stand. We're going to start with invocation. Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for allowing all of us to gather here today. Um I just pray that you watch over everybody and all the families that are represented here and just let everybody have safe travels and a wonderful month. Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. All right. We're going to have the uh pledge to the American flag. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Now the Texas flag. Honor the flag. I aliance to the Texas one state. All right, everybody can be seated.

Yeah, thanks for being here today as always. We appreciate you and uh appreciate everybody that's here in attendance today. We'll start by having our public comment to order. Let's call the meeting to order. Call the meeting to order. Then we have public comment. Oh, sorry. I missed the order. We call our meeting to order. Now we'll have public comment. We do have a quum. Any any public comment? Does anyone have anything?

If we're wanting to speak on the uh uh one of the agenda items, do we wait for that time or do we go now? Um I think we would probably take it in public comment. Okay. Well, just now. Okay. Okay, I'll go first. Hi. Do I stand? Where do I stand? You can either stand at the p podium or you can stand right here. It's up to you.

Okay. Well, I guess I'll stand at the podium because, you know, I don't know where I'm supposed to be right now except other than here. Um, my name is JC Carpenter and uh I am here to encourage y'all to adopt the ordinance to make mules a sanctuary city for the unborn. I uh I'm pretty passionate about this subject. And the reason I'm pretty passionate about this subject is because I wish that there had been somebody to protect me when I was 18 years old. I wish that there had been laws against abortion when at 18 years old, I murdered my first child. That was a choice that kept me in a prison of my own mind for more than 25 years and led to two subsequent abortions. I know firsthand the damage that abortion can do to a woman. I know firsthand the trauma that a woman experiences uh during the abortions and after the abortions. Being in uh denial, stuck rationalizing and justifying a decision that should have never been made. I know that uh this ordinance is going to help protect Texans, going to help protect women from being trafficked across state lines into New Mexico to end the lives of of not just their babies but generations of their families. Before my abortion, when I was 18,

I thought I was doing great things. I had made up credits. I had a 3.86 grade point average. I graduated on time. Um, and see, I came out of the foster care system. I spent my freshman and sophomore years of high school in the foster care system. So, I was like moving up. I was living on my own. I was taking care of, you know, all of my responsibilities. And that decision sent me on a trajectory that landed me in jail, almost prison. I became a criminal, not because I'd had the abortion, because the world said that that was okay, but because I started using drugs and alcohol and attempting suicide. Today, as I stand before you, I've counseledled women all over this country for years now, and I can tell you the damage that abortion does to a woman. New Mexico abortion businesses are targeting Texan teens and teaching them how to lie to their parents and transporting them across state lines into New Mexico to have abortions without parental consent without any wait time to to make sure that that's what they think they want to do. And I hope that all of you who took oaths to uphold the Constitution would think about and honor that the

inalienable rights given to us in the Constitution here in the United States, the first one is the right to life, liberty, and Christian happiness. Fortunately, I've been saved, delivered, healed by Jesus the Christ. And my life looks very different now. But I was a menace. I was a menace to society. I hurt many people. And it cost me a whole lot. not to mention the lives of three of my children. I pray that you all will do everything within your power to protect women and children from the atrocities of abortion. I thank you for hearing me out. And if there's anybody that has questions, there will be more than room to answer before I sit down.

Thank you.

Mayor, can you establish a threem minute time limit, please? Yeah, that's fine. Um, we'll just give you a three minutes. I don't know how long your last one was. I didn't time it, but we'll just uh we'll just make sure that way if everybody speaks and I've timed mine, so perfect.

Um, good afternoon, mayor and council members. Most of you know me, but my name is Heather Garcia, and I stand before you, not just as a former citizen of Neil Shu, but also as a mother with a story that could have ended very differently. When I was 20 years old, I was a college cheerleader. Had big dreams and my whole life planned out, or so I thought. Then I found out I was pregnant, unmarried, scared, and completely overwhelmed. I felt shame, fear, and uncertainty. And I didn't know what to do. I remember my cheerleading coach pulling me aside and offering to take me somewhere to take care of it. In that moment, abortion was presented to me as the easy solution, the way to erase the problem and move on with my life. But deep down, I knew this wasn't just a problem. This was a child. It was my child. I chose life. And that baby who some thought should never have had a chance grew up to become the 2015 validictorian of Milshu High School. He served with this board as a youth advisory council back when he was in high school. He went to school with some of you. He went to school with some of your children. He grew up in a house that you own. He is living proof that an unplanned life is not an unwanted life and that every child has a purpose. In 2020, after having a hysterctomy, my doctor told me something that I will never forget. Medically, I should have never been able to have a child and that that child was an absolute miracle from God. At 20 years old, scared and uncertain, I could not have known that that was my fate. and that had I chose something different that would um have cho have stripped me from a chance of experiencing motherhood. Had I made that choice, I

would have been robbed of that and never knowing the greatest joy of my life. I often think about how close I came to missing that miracle. And that is why I'm asking you tonight to make Milshu a sanctuary city for the young unborn. This isn't about politics. It's about courage and about standing up for righteousness when it's unpopular. Milsh shoes should not become a pathway for trafficking women and children across state lines to New Mexico. But unfortunately, it has become that. And we should be making it harder, not easier, for lives to be discarded and for women in crisis to be told the only answer is to end a life within them. I ask you to stand up for that righteousness. And I ask you to protect life. I ask you to make me mu a place that says every child matters and every life is worth defending because one decision to protect life can change generations. Thank you.

Hello. Hi, my name is Iris Lopez. I'm formerly from Amarella, graduate 1987. And my story was um my daughter graduated and she went off to college and a couple of months later I found out I was pregnant again. 20 years later, I became a mom again. When I found out I was pregnant, I was like, "Wow, what?" Okay. I was excited and scared because I was 40. Um, the medical facility told me that I was too old to be having a baby and kept encouraging me to get an abortion and I kept thinking about it and I talked to my son's dad and we both agreed that wasn't an option. They kept telling me I was going to have a down syndrome baby because of my age. Um, I didn't take any advice, didn't take any any kind of medical anything, nothing. My son, my my story short and sweet. My son graduates May 21st of this year. Healthy, healthy baby boy. And there was no reason why they should be encouraged to get an admission. That sounds good. Okay. Well, my name is Onida Deiana, but I'm formerly known as Peggy Lopez. I graduated Mushu 1977 and uh I do have a story to tell and

I'll try to be very brief but I um graduated had all my hopes in front of me went off to college at WT while I was at WT by November I was raped on campus and uh that was very devastating because I had always been uh the proper big sister to my sister Iris and uh the proper daughter to my mother that was a single parent that taught us how to grow up and how to be young babies. I didn't know I was going to face my mother coming home to tell her that I had gotten pregnant from a rape. First tell her about rape, then tell her about being pregnant. And um at WT when I was there, it was 19 77. So, um, all these stuff that everybody's talking about today was not talked about back then. I had no clue exactly what had even happened to me, much less know that I would be pregnant at 19 years old. And um, I uh was approached by WT did not want to stand up because I did go to the police after that. So, they brushed everything under the rug for me. Uh, there was no way to tell me, but yet they would tell me to get an abortion. That that was the best thing for me cuz I was young and I had my whole life in front of me and that um just to put it in my past. First of all, rape is such a horrible horrible thing to happen to me at that age when you're a virgin and you're taught to be that kind of a growing person in Moshu. emotionally very conservative and uh I was told oh we're no we're known to to get an

abortion but I myself because I was always a god-fearing person Catholic went to the church here and Father Boyer Father Tim was uh the minister there and um I went to talk to him and he says Peggy I've known you all your life he says it's going to be your choice but you know what God wants and I said yes sir And uh my mother also said, "Well, you've been such a good girl. Why do you want to have a baby at your age? It's going to, you know, change your life." And I told my mom, I said, "Well, mom," I said, "I believe in God and I believe that whatever this baby is, boy or girl, I'm not supposed to have an abortion." And I think I showed like a lot of braveness on my part because um two big devastating things have happened to me at a very young age and I chose to keep my baby and thank God I did because she grew up to be an outstanding outstanding citizen. She um graduated high school in Amarillo. She I put her in private schools, Catholic schools. So she was always the proper daughter. I was so proud of her. She passed away in 2021. Ovarian cancer. She never had a baby, not a grandma. And my son-in-law was shot to death in Lebec at the Walmart. All this happened to me back to back in 2020, 2021. And then today when my sister invited me to come here, I had no clue what she was into. But now I see. And I think that yes, we do have to fight for these unborn children because regardless if you have it or you don't have it. The thing is that the United States right now is has a very low birth rate. People are not getting married anymore either. About 68% of of young adults are

not getting married, much less having babies. I know it's expensive, but I think that we whatever chance we have to have children to bring them up in in today's world, teach them what's right and wrong because I think that somewhere along the line, the kids today have gone off course and it's going to be up to people say like me and Iris and all these people sitting here to to change the course of of what's going on in in the United States. It's very bad right now. But all I have to say is I believe that abortion should not happen no matter what. I had to go through the experience of having the baby and it was not easy for me because all I did was see that rapist face in my child. It took me maybe five years to get over it that quit seeing his face because he raped me because he said that I didn't have the right to look like I looked and think I could get away with it, much less getting me pregnant at the rape. So, all I say is if I can go through a hardship like this, I believe that there's a lot of young girls out there that can be taught the same thing. That's it. Thank you.

Good evening. Uh, thank you so much, mayor and council members, for allowing us to speak tonight. U, my name is Tara Shaver. I'm actually a pro-life missionary with Abortion for New Mexico. Even even though I'm a missionary in New Mexico, I'm actually a Fort Worth native. So, it's good to be back in my home state. Um, I just want to briefly talk about why efforts like the sanctuary cities for the unborn ordinance ordinances matter so deeply right now. Um, JC touched a little bit about it, but especially for communities across Texas and New Mexico. Um, maybe you know, maybe you don't, but over the last several years, New Mexico has become one of the most extreme abortion destinations in America. Since Row versus Wade was overturned, our state has seen a massive influx of women traveling from Texas for abortions um to New Mexico, particularly late term abortions. In Albuquerque alone, abortion facilities themselves have reported between an 85 to 95% um of their abortion clients are actually Texas residents. And I just want us to think about that for a moment. These are not isolated cases. This is a pipeline drawing vulnerable women and young girls across state lines into an industry that profits from crisis, fear, secrecy, and desperation. That reality exa is exactly why we put up the pro-life billboard in Muho on Highway 84. Um because Highway 84 is obviously a main thoroughfare to Albuquerque and it's the route that women are taking um to get abortions there. The billboard is not about attacking women. And it's about reminding Texans that their laws exist for a reason to protect both women and their unborn children. Unfortunately, women are circumventing those laws with the help of a very profitable abortion industry. Texas thankfully has chosen to recognize that women facing crisis pregnancies deserve support, protection, and alternatives to abortion. The billboard is meant to encourage moms to leave, not to leave those protections behind by crossing into New Mexico, where abortion businesses are

aggressively marketing themselves as an easy answer. Because once many of these women arrive in New Mexico, they enter a system with shockingly few protections and very little accountability. New Mexico has virtually no meaningful abortion oversight standards compared to many other states. There are no justational limits. um public reporting requirements have been completely stripped away. There's very little transparency and critically New Mexico has no parental notification or parental consent protections for minors who are seeking abortions um coming from any state. That should concern every city leader, every parent, um and especially those in Texas. When a minor girl is transported across state lines into New Mexico for an abortion, we have to ask difficult but necessary questions. Who brought her there? who is trying to keep the abortion secret and who benefits from avoiding parental involvement and oversight. In some cases, the very person transporting that girl might be the same person exploiting her. An abortion does nothing to stop that abuse. In fact, it conceals it. The abortion may remove the evidence of the abuse or exploitation while placing that vulnerable girl right back into the same environment where she can continue to be victimized again and again. This is not protection. That's not compassion. And it's not justice for vulnerable girls. And we do see them at um abortion centers in Albuquerque. When oversight disappears, vulnerable people are the ones who suffer most. Young girls suffer, women in crisis suffer, families suffer, and ultimately innocent unborn children lose their lives. And that's why Sanctuary Cities for the unborn ordinances matter. These ordinances send a message that communities do not have to surrender to the abortion industry. They say, "We want our cities to protect women, protect minors, and protect unborn children, not become a part of a system that funnels vulnerable people across state lines for abortions." And ultimately, I believe that this is about loving our neighbors. I love my neighbors in Texas enough to speak

honestly about what's happening in New Mexico. I love mothers enough to say they deserve better than abortion. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 24:11 to rescue those being led away to death, hold back those staggering toward the slaughter. So tonight, I just want to encourage you guys as city leaders, do not underestimate the importance of local action. One city can make a difference. One ordinance can make a difference. And I believe that mothers deserve support instead of abandonment. And I hope that you do, too. For these reasons, I do lead a team of about 30 volunteers that offer hope and help to women um at Albuquerque abortion centers, as I said, and daily we encounter hundreds of women um from Texas coming to our abortion centers. Um some of the facilities, their whole parking lots are full of vehicles with license plates from Texas. In 2024, the most recent data that we have states that 14,000 women from your state came to New Mexico to do the unthinkable. I believe that Texas women and Texas minors should not be funneled into New Mexico's abortion system without hearing that there's a better way. And that's really at the heart of what we do. So, thank you for your time. Thank you for your willingness to stand for the protection of women, children, and the unborn. And please support this ordinance tonight. Thank you. Greetings. My name is Mark Lee Dixon. I'm the founder of what's called the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn initiative. And I was there from the beginning with Wasome in 2019. And so so far we have seen a total of just in Texas alone we've seen um 79 city ordinances and 23 county ordinances passed. The most recent city was

Brownfields and that was Thursday morning. There was a citizen initiative there and they decided to go ahead and pass the ordinance. It was 53 vote there. Um and Collingsworth County unanimously passed the ordinance this morning. Uh across the state uh over past Abalene, the city of Ranger is considering the ordinance tonight as well. And so this initiative was done uh not due to a lack of faith and in leadership here of course but due to the fact that we saw great value in educating the community to have that support behind you of people that uh would hear what was going on. 84 is one of the most trafficked roads to New Mexico for abortions. And that is why Miss Shaver and her husband ended up putting that billboard uh pleading with women to turn around and not go to Albuquerque for abortions. I was involved in the LEC measure. It passed the ballot 62 to 38%. Cities across the state have passed this same measure. We know that this is solid. I was the only private citizen that was sued in a lawsuit uh regarding the Texas Heartbeat Act which uses the same enforcement mechanism that went before Supreme Court United States. All nine justices agreed the case against me should be dismissed. Uh this is not enforced by law enforcement at all. enforced by private citizenry. This gives the power to the citizens if there was any kind of if their daughter was trafficked through this area. And so it's not just about the residents of MSU, it's about all the rest of Texas.

When Roie Wade was overturned, one of the largest independent abortion providers in the nation and in the state, Whole Women's Health, which was in Fort Worth, McKenna, McAllen, and Austin, sought to target HOBS in Clovis, New Mexico. We introduced measures there and we were successful to push them all the way to Albuquerque. But just because we pushed them that far did not mean that they would leave Texas residents alone. Whole Women's Health alone boasts that 95% of their clients are Texas residents. Unfortunately, what's happening when they're having the abortions over in New Mexico, they're coming back and it's our hospitals, our churches, our communities that are dealing with the aftermath of that tragic abortion. uh the abortion industry in New Mexico, they're telling women to if there's anything anything that happens, any problems, they're telling them to go to the hospital and lie, say that they were never at the abortion facilities in New Mexico. uh House Speaker Burroughs and Senator Charles Perry and Senator Hughes and many other representatives across the state uh have given uh letters out to cities and counties across the the state, especially border uh cities and counties, uh we really need everyone to do their part. And while we are hopeful to see legislation statewide in future sessions, we can't do everything at once. And what we saw with the heartbeat acts, the sanctuary city ordinances helped pave the way for that. And these ordinances are helping pave the way for uh state legislation. Um where you guys are located in the this this region of Texas, about 80% of the uh population of this this caprock region are covered by

these ordinances. And so, but this is one of the most important places on the border for for this to be considered and I would encourage uh the passage of this. Majority of cities and counties that have considered this have just passed it outright. Uh with the citizen initiative process, there's that um if of course this this is uh there's that option of this going to the ballot. Uh however, um if it does go to the ballot, there are costs election-wise for that. Uh and so uh there's also uh a lot of opposition that could come as a result. um and and kind of that battling it out. But uh last thing I'll I'll close with is this and that is uh from the beginning uh every single city that I've gone before um we have seen seen men and women of courage stand up and really lean in to what we see in Amos 5:15 which says to hate evil, love good, and establish justice within the city gates. and perhaps the Lord, the God of host, be gracious on the remnant of Joseph. Uh the churches in this community, the businesses, this community, we have seen so much support of this and um if y'all have any other questions throughout the course of this uh this night about the ordinance. I co-wrote this ordinance with Jonathan Mitchell. He is the former solicitor general for the state of Texas. You all have a letter from him saying that if anything were to happen, he'd represent you at no cost city and taxpayers. He is one of the leading constitutional attorneys in America. He is the architect of the private enforcement mechanism on the heartbeat act. He defended the heartbeat act before the Supreme Court of United States. He defended the city of Leach uh before federal district court and he defended me as well with the heartbeat act

litigation before Scotas also. uh he is the one who represented President Trump before the Supreme Court of United States in the Colorado Supreme Court ballot case because he's the one that got Trump back on the ballot in Colorado and he's also the one who represented gun owners in the bump stop case. So he's one of the leading constitutional attorneys in America and he is 100% behind you guys in this. Uh thank you guys so much. Thank you. All right, we're going to move out of public comment and end our agenda.

Our first item on our agenda is to administer the oath of office to the elected council members. Raone Cameron would do the honor to administer the oath. They depart from district three. Please raise your right hand or repeat after me. I state your name. I, as Vana Carpenter, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office the duties of the office of council member district 3

of council member district 3 for the city of Milshu for the city of Milshu and will to the best of my ability and will to the best of my ability preserve protect and defend preserve protect and defend the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of this of the United States and of this state of the United States safe and the state safe. So help me God. So help me God. Thank you.

Mr. Ashley, I think your remaining council members present you with your your departing gift. Am I supposed to? So you guys

a gift it was

appreciate you have one last picture. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you. I think you have given me that oath of office before. Yes, I have. So, we on that side of it. Next is the reelection of Mary Barker for me district 4. I can recite that. Yeah. Okay. You tell me.

All right. Don't read your name in. I state your name. I, Gary Parker, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute that I will faithfully execute the duties of this office the duties of this office that council member District 4 council member District 4 for the city of Neil for the city of NSU. and will to the best of my ability. And will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the United States of the United States and of this state and of this state. So help me God. So help me God.

Thank All right. Our next item is to approve the minutes from the council meeting held April the 13th, 2026. Motion to approve the minutes. I'll second. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose.

Motion carries. Excuse me. Our next item is to elect the mayor pro town. Mayor Shart louds the council first meeting after an election. The council elect one of their members to serve as mayor pro team. Currently council member Gary Parker is the mayor pro team. So you got twist his arm continue or it's up to y'all. I like the way it is. Does anybody have any keep saying? All right, I'll make a motion that we elect Gary as mayor pretend. Second.

We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I.

I. All post. Motion carries. The next item is consider ordinance 0-559-0526 outlawing abortion and declaring Malshu a sanctuary city for the unborn. Mayor Cedar allows qualified voters of the city of Munu to initiate legislation by submitting a petition to council for consideration. The right to life across Texas group has submitted a petition for council to consider an ordinance allowing abortion and declaring new century city for the unborn. A copy of this ordinance as presented was provided to council. Uh the petition was certified by uh city secretary Tamara Keane and she could tell you the the outcome of it.

Mayor and council, there was 238 um signatures included on the petition. 164 of those were verified and qualified voters. This bring this meets the threshold of the 150 qualified voters to bring the ordinance to the agenda. Just cancel any remarks. Yeah. Uh, I would like to start by saying I think that we live in a pretty conservative area and I think most people probably agree with you. Maybe I won't. I would like to say what I disagree with is the fact that I feel like my community was misled because 6 to 8 months ago I was contacted by somebody from your group. We exchanged multiple conversations if I could remember correctly. We exchanged multiple text messages if I remember correctly. And so I know your group does know how to get in contact with me. I don't disagree with your stance on this. I appreciate what you do in this measure.

I would also say that I'm one that's very willing to let the people speak. I didn't time one of you tonight as far as my public comment uh because I like the people to be able to have a voice and I believe in that. Kirk has been to my meetings before and we had a confusion on the getting in the right door one meeting and he'd come in in the middle and I asked him if he wanted to make public comment because that's my meeting he's attending. I want him to have the right to speak and give his voice as a citizen of this community. And I think that's something that's important. But I don't think that this issue in this area has to be divisive. I don't think having to create division in my community has to be something that's done because people in my community that have reached out to me through this process wanted to know why I wouldn't allow this on my agenda. And I think you could probably ask the staff here if I've ever refused anything to be on my agenda. And in my communication with your group, I was never indicated that you guys would like something out of me. And so the fact that my people in my community that I think believe in me were misled and created division, it sure makes it difficult for me to stand up here and decide what to do with this

ordinance. I believe in pro-life and I believe in your fight and I'm absolutely willing to work with you. But I don't think misleading people, misrepresenting people, as Trump calls it, fake news. I don't think that's okay. I I like to be represented appropriately. And I think if your group had my cell phone number, then probably any of you knew how to get in contact with me. And so I'm just disheartened that people would come into our community and try to create division amongst each other, probably even trying to make me look bad a little bit, which is it's okay. I can handle it because I mean I've grown up here. I've been conservative my whole life. I've been pro-life my entire life and probably believe very similar to every one of y'all. And so I think it's pretty important. I don't know how other communities would feel and other councils would feel and I don't know how this council feels of whether they're pro-life or pro-choice for this, but I would hope in the future you take a different approach with people because I don't feel like I was given a fair shake. And I know multiple times in this community, people was told that there had been multiple attempts of contacting with the mayor and with other council members. I don't know of any other council members that's been approached besides maybe Jackson that made the connection to me, but I think we could have made this step

together in an agreeance without creating division because I do think there's plenty of division in our country today. and I just don't appreciate being mis misrepresented. And so I'll turn that back over to the council and see if you guys have any remarks. I can just agree with what you said and and verify the fact that I was never contacted by anybody from your organization and I agree wholeheartedly that uh hey been handled differently and in my opinion better. Does anybody else have any other remarks?

I think he just summed it up pretty good right there.

I um feel like we're always a little bit prepared when something's going to be put on an agenda, you know, because we like to do our research. This was definitely just like thrown on the air, let's go. And so I was in like the office right away to try to figure out what happened. And so it was a little bit of a curveball for sure. Um and I completely um I think up here we stand, you know, as a team for what's best for middle shoe and it did kind of um I can imagine how Cole feels, you know, but because Colt is very open doors to everything. So yes, I think it could have been handled a little bit different. I am I think we might, you know, Mil is a very conservative town. I am pro-life. Um, some of the stories I'll share very similar. You know, I am a um, teenage pregnancy, you know, Catholic, very conservative. Um, I have been praying which way I'm going to vote just because in Texas, this is already a law. So, we're not really changing anything for the state. It's just putting the label on the town is what from my Is that different? Do we have our attorneys here too?

They're not, but it is. I did speak to them. You know, uh it is it's a state law. Uh the and like uh Mr. Dixon said, this is law enforcement cannot enforce this. It is a feelood. Uh it is try to It's not right. Excuse me. Um, may I offer

Let me let me So, you know, I think he said, you know, relatives and I think it worth if a relative knows about it, you know, they can help. And I think as a community, as a council and a city staff, we will provide. We do have a way to uh to do things here in MUI, but as far as it cannot be enforced by law enforcement. Our city ordinance cannot be enforced by law enforcement. So

I have a healthcare background. So I'm a pharmacist if any of you know. So I see a lot of stories also from the other side of things. Um also you know in New Mexico some of the numbers you were saying a lot of Texas one that I personally know as well. they go to New Mexico to get procedures done that they consider them absorptions already. So the numbers, you know, I can see where those numbers are a little bit higher to where they call it that versus in Texas. Same procedures done that were done in Mexico are done in Texas, but they just put a different medical term on it. Um, I am so I don't know which way I'm going to vote, but I just want to let you know if anybody has any wants to have any community any conversation about why I professionally and personally chose to vote the way I did, I'd be more than happy to talk to anybody um one-on-one outside of this. That's all I have.

I'll give you a few minutes. Thank you. So, just um a few points of clarification. Um last year uh we did reach out to we try to reach out to to you respectfully and um we did talk to to Jackson as well and Jackson had encouraged to talk to you. We made several attempts. I think it was bad timing. It was just I think scheduling conflicts on both sides. I mean that was and so I was busy with my kids uh I think when you're in town it just it never connected right

but I think if if somebody wants something done like even if we can't meet like if we clarify hey this is what we want to do I could probably help with the approach

and we try like I was here in MUA at least 20 times I I did communicate through other people that, hey, I'm going to be around. I will drive how many of our hours to make it happen. Um, but things happen and, you know, I believe in the the providence of God in all things. Um, but Mules really is one of the most important cities on the Texas and Mexico border. And the numbers I gave earlier. Um, Madame Councilwoman, uh, the those numbers are specifically from the the abortion provider that was servicing uh, Austin, Fort Worth, McKenna, McAllen, uh, the one that tried to set up in Hobbs, New Mexico that only does elective abortions. So, we're not talking about uh medical emergencies. um the all the laws of Texas that we have right now and and I've been involved in several estate laws uh they do allow for abortions in a case of medical emergency and so uh this ordinance what it does is this is closing the loopholes that we're dealing with uh not in that that side of things but we're the the loopholes we're addressing in this and so it's different from state law it adds to state law. Um, state law says that you can be stricter and close some of these loopholes, which the ones we're addressing are the the trafficking of minors across state lines. Really, trafficking of any women across state lines, but that includes minors. We have a lot of evidence that this road 84 here is is being used by groups like the Lil Fund, the T fund, other abortion assistance groups targeting Texas teens without parental

consent. And so nothing in state law addresses that problem. Uh Texas waste management companies are also bringing dead babies from abortion facilities in other states to the state of Texas and they're ending up in landfills. And babies of course are not trash. Uh, House Speaker Burroughs his letter, if you guys have have read it, um, in the letter from Senator David Gyos, clearly state that they need that this would help, that this would it may take a while to get some of these things passed down in Austin. But if this was passed here locally, it would make a huge amount of difference saving lives. And I can say this for for sure, Holman's Health when Leach County passed this exact same measure and also Cochran County when they passed it, what we saw canceled appointments in Albuquerque uh of Texas women who were planning on going there for elective abortions. And so this isn't a feel-good measure. It isn't something that is just a repetition of state law. This is closing some of those loopholes that are not addressed in state law and that's why uh we are working so hard along these borders. We didn't want to risk this not being moved forward. And so the initiative petition when we saw that we had to move forward in that way in brownfields we said well might as well go ahead and address some of these other places that we really need to see this because every week that goes by that's more women whose lives are in danger and more unborn children who are being killed by the abortion industry. Our federal government just released a a program uh moms.gov

teaching about pregnancy resource uh centers across the the nation. And this is really an effort at every single level of government. Uh, this ordinance does point to some things in state law like the thriving Texas families program which gives help to women who find themselves in unexpected pregnancy, but it does so much more than that in trying to close these loopholes of this massive trafficking. Miss Shaver has they only had two billboards that they put up in Amarillo and then here in Mules and that that's coming from someone who spends almost every single day outside the seven abortion facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And she sees those Texas plates and they want to be wise about the resources they have. And so what did they do? They targeted Muho and Amarillo with those ads because they believe that that would save the most lives of women who are going to New Mexico for abortions. If there's any questions, I'll be glad to to answer any questions that y'all might have. And I will say this too, like I have nothing against any one of you guys. I don't think you guys are um I don't I don't have any negative views of of any of you guys. Uh this is just such an important measure that um and if this was something that were to be put on the ballot for November, then one thing to keep in consider consideration about that is there's that's a lot of money spent on both sides and that's a lot of uh a lot of attention on Muho that um from the beginning I was believing that this is something that most likely with

y'all's conservative council IL would just go as majority of other councils across the the state of Texas in just a passage of of the measure. But if it does go to the ballot, then of course, you know, we'll do everything we can. Um, but of course that is something that um, and of course if this was something that y'all did need more time on um, then of course uh, I believe uh, you can correct me on this if I'm wrong, but I believe that you guys do have a uh, is it a 30 or 60 day window to 30 30?

Yeah. When was the petition?

Yeah. And and so if if for instance you're like I'm not there yet. I want to to to really glean on this more then I would be glad to connect with uh you guys one-on-one or whatever or do a presentation at a church. We have been at several churches here locally just educating uh about the measure. Um just just the fact that you know people need to know about there's still a fight to fight. Uh but whatever I can do to to help and and uh but again no no ill will towards any of you guys I don't think negatively about I mules been a place where I've been uh when I can attending church on Wednesday nights and and also I mean I've been an ambassador for uh telling the world about how amazing the the salsa is at le for for years now. So there's no in fact I told my my parents back home I was like you guys got to try Leah salsa and they ended up getting some and and they loved it and so uh there's nothing um even if this was delayed the end you know after this council meeting I would go to get some salsa and enjoy some good enchiladas. It's not a wasted trip at all. And I don't care if I have to come back seven uh 10 20 more times to sit down, have conversations with you guys, answer your questions. Um but this is the exact same ordinance that's been passed 11 different times this year alone in 29 different times last year by cities of all shapes and sizes. So, I want to say something.

Okay.

Stand up here. Um I am retired 211 director from the Odessa Midland area. Um one of the things that was not talked about here that I feel like I need to say is that yes, we need to prevent abortions. But the thing that I experienced in Milshoot back when with my daughter is that she we used to come stay with her grandma every summer. And one of the summers her like little best friend that she made here was pregnant at 13. And my daughter said, "Mom, how can I have a friend that's pregnant at 13? Mom, how does that happen?" I had to explain to my daughter at that point about the birds and the bees. But regardless of that, I don't even know what happened to that poor little girl. I don't know what happened. if she got shipped somewhere or the parents hit her or what. But one of the things that I experienced in Odessa as a 211 director was that a lot of the young ladies that were getting pregnant at early ages, I got calls as a director for little girls wanted to commit suicide when they got pregnant because they didn't know how to handle being pregnant, even having that baby. So this goes beyond, you know, pro-life or having the baby sometimes. It goes to protecting our youth right now. Not just saying, "Oh, Mu is not out of this because Mu, I've bragged so much about Mushu. I've traveled to New York. I've been I've had the most amazing life since I left Moshu. But I came back after 33 years of being gone and I'm coming home to all of these situations. And um the other thing that that uh I was able because I'm from Milshu I have worked with people who came out of

Milshu educated you know universities forever and they got to meet me and work from Yoshu. I got to meet one of the commissioners in Austin and went to ask him for money for a program that I was working through the 21 director. I got a $250,000 grant just because I was from Milshoot. I have so much pride in Milshoot. I don't want Milshoot to let me down because I talked to everybody from here to New York about mesh. And you know what? It just so happens that everybody knows Milshe wherever I go. And I want to stand here and keep bragging about mesh. Keep bragging about y'all. What y'all do for me? That's right. Does anybody else have any more comments they would like to make or any emotions? I want to make a motion that we uh pass this ordinance. I'll second it. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I.

May I have hands? Show hands. Okay. All those in favor raise your right hand. All opposed. 40 left.

Motion carries. I would like to add it's probably because we all believe in the same way you guys believe. But I would hope that you don't the other communities you go to in your fight, you don't me misrepresent because to me that's what the left side of our aisle does time and time again. And so I hope that your fight continues on, but give everybody a fair shake.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thanks.

You guys are welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting or you're welcome to leave if you would like to. Let's leave it up to you guys. All right, we'll move on to uh number five on our agenda to consider the ordinance. O-557-0526 amending the tree limb hedge clipping and other trash not placed in container ordinance. Mayor section one of chapter 33 utility article 13.02 solid waste section has been amended to include the following. If trash cannot fit in the city's provided container, the person responsible for the trash shall dispose of it using an approved method, including landfill disposal shall be unlawful for any it shall be unlawful for any person to place trash or any other material in the alleys or streets. What it does, it prohibits anything being placed next to the dumpster or in any city, whether it's an alley street, bacon lot, it is prohibited. I would like to make the comment that we've had this for years where we've allowed things like this, but I feel like it's continually been abused. Yes.

And so I think it's to the point that we probably need to address it. And that's my comments. If anybody else has any, you're welcome to share.

Agree with you 100%. Uh it's it has been abused. Uh we we pride ourselves as as a city of maintaining the best service we can provide to to the citizens on the least amount of people we can get by with. We took more bang for our buck than anybody around and we're proud of that and we'll continue to do that. And this is putting a strain on our personnel of having to leave their regular duties daily to go around with a trailer and a pickup to pick up somebody else's trash that they're fully capable of taking themselves. So, I agree with it 100%. And I would make a motion that we pass this ordinance. I'll second. We

have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. Motion carries.

Next item number six is to consider ordinance 0-558-0526 adding article 3.09 shipping cargo storage containers to chapter 3 building regulations to the city millshoot code of ordinances. Ramon. Mayor, this ordinance amends chapter three of the bill and regulations. It sets the the placement and use of containers and what it the main deal that it does. It prohibits human habitation on any of those containers. It if it's considered storage where there's a building container, then it should be for storage. It prohibiting human habitat. You probably seen in some other areas where they'll bring in a shipping container. Next thing you know, there's a door and a window. Okay, this addresses that. It also gives the building department uh the backing of a city ordinance when they go to talk to somebody about it. So, I'll make a motion that we approve the ordinance.

I'll second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. All opposed. Motion carries. Item seven is to consider the recommendation from the Mules Economic Development Corporation for Battle Springs Hydration and Wellness LLC.

Mayor, uh item seven and eight kind of go together. Uh eight is a resolution on this. Uh the MEC board has determined that this project does meet the guidelines for a type B project. Uh it is their recommendation to approve 30,000. It's a loan to B Springs Hydration and Wellness. Uh believe there's a copy pro of a memo provided to you from the EDC board. Uh it does meet the guidelines for B project. Item eight is to consider the resolution for that. Does item seven need any action?

No sir. That is well it is accept the recommendation. Yes, please accept the recommendation. Uh if you guys have any questions I was at the EDC meeting and we'd be glad to answer Raone or Dam were you there too? Yeah. So tell me about what is the spinal springs hydration wellness honestly.

I think mainly the key thing that they're looking at is like IV infusions. Um, she spoke a lot about maybe I guess trying to bridge the gap in the community from if you go into the clinic and you need an IV, you have to go to the ER to get the IV and that's pretty expensive even for people with most insuranceances. It's pretty expensive to do that. And so I think this would help bridge that gap and I think probably offer some other things as well. She talked about cryotherapy. Um, is there anything else specific? I'm assuming like those were kind of the main couple things.

This particular loan will be to purchase a crowd therapy machine. Yeah. Yes. And the that machine will serve as our um collateral for two years. She will have a storefront and a mobile unit for that as well. This resolution will be presented to you again on a June meeting. It'll be two readings for the resolution tonight. And then the storefront will be where does he have a location? Across the street from the courthouse 107 West WD. Okay. Key's old building.

Yeah. I would like to make a motion that we accept this recommendation. I'll second. We have a motion and second. All those in favor say I. All opposed. Motion carries. Our next item is to consider resolution R-827-0 526 approving the MEDC project for Battle Springs hydration and wellness. I'll make a motion that we approve that resolution. Second. A motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. All

oppose. Motion carries. Next item is to consider the resolution R-828-0526 adopting the water conservation plan. Mayor TCQ and Texas Water Development Board require municipalities to adopt and implement a water conservation plan. This resolution adopts a 20 mi 2026 water conservation plan. Uh this will be adopted on a yield basis and it be revised every 5 years. A copy of the plan was provided to y'all. Hey, as you know, we're experiencing drought. So, uh the state wants to make sure that we have something in place in case we need to implement any water restrictions. the car conservation plan at it's more of a voluntary basis. Um but it is something that we have to uh adopt. So there is the first time that MU has proposing a a water conservation plan.

I'll make a motion to adopt the plan. I'll second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. All opposed. No carries. That means you're not can't let your water run out the street anymore. There will be penalties for that. I was on the phone with him the other day and he's like said his water run down the street and it's peeing. They couldn't believe. It's real challenging with the wind we've been having to keep it off the street. Our next item is to receive the financial statement for the month ending March the 31st 2026.

Yeah, skip about item. I'm sorry. Number 10. Okay. To consider the revised drought contingency plan.

The drought contingency plan kind of goes hand in hand with a conservation plan. the dropping things. However, it is something that if implemented uh there are some triggers that we look at uh public works and we'll look at the consumption and the weather, temperature uh all that if we if it's triggered there's different stages. Uh at first we will look water conservation, you know, voluntary. If that doesn't work then we'll as the stages go up it's get we'll put restrictions you know uh mainly on outdoor activities uh can let you water go down the curve uh some of that this has been in place for multiple years uh it is presented to council yearly and it is revised every five years so

I like uh to make motion that we consider that revised contingency I'll second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. All opposed. Motion carries. Now we will receive the financial statement for the month ending March 31st, 2026. I apologize. I should say April. Say March. April was posted in Dropbox. I did not correct it on the agenda. Got you. Uh for so April the 30th of 2026. Correct. I'll make a motion that we receive that financial statement. I'll second motion a second. All those in favor say I. I.

I. All oppose. Motion carries. Item 12 is administrative reports. We're on.

Mayor, city hall was a poll in place for the MUN ISD general election uh which was held May the 2nd. 91 voters turned out uh for two districts. Uh I believe one of them had 20 and the other one had almost 70. And that was the outcome of the election. Uh the mayor's prayer lunchon was held on the 7th at the mutual training facility. I think it was a great success. Uh for those that attended, it was good. Uh it's good to see the community come out. You know, hopefully next year we make it even bigger. So, uh, the Mun Water Park scheduled to open day after Memorial Day, the May the 26. Uh, the TML Region 3 meeting will be held on June the 25th in Lok. There'll be more details to come. We'll let you know as they come available. Uh, the budget process for the 2026 2027 fiscal year has begun. uh budget work session will be scheduled for a later date. Um as far as project updates uh the one that we currently working on of course the home program uh we are in the process of uh we have chosen five homes uh they're in the process of submitting paperwork. Uh hopefully we'll start moving on that. Another one, it's uh the airport rehab of the runway and the taxi way at the airport. Um text has notified us that uh they gives a notice to proceed. Uh we're going to be in the process of looking for a contractor for that. Uh that should take four months to complete that that project. I expected to be probably mid to late summer. if not early fall for that project.

Will the airport be closed for any period of time? Briefly. Briefly. I think uh we going to try to divert traffic uh away from the taxi ways. So, we'll use uh runway to taxi in and out. Uh seal code is on the streets projected to be in June, sometime in the middle of June. So, so those are the what we got going right now on the home grant program. Uh you said we selected five. How many applications do we have? Got a total of 18 applications. All qualifying applications.

Uh no uh applications. So what happens there is we uh weed out the ones that do not qualify. Uh the city has committed to do five homes. Uh so that is a random drawing. uh those those folks are uh picked randomly. I mean that's as a matter of fact uh this year we had a one of those bingo machines and that that is probably the easiest most fair way to select. Um I me and staff stay out of that. We do not select the homes. Uh we do hire consultants to do that. So it is a process. Uh they they do that. How many of the 18 were did will qualify?

I don't know. Uh if the way it is, if those first five qualify, then it' be those first five. Okay. If some of those don't qualify, as a matter of fact, we do have one, they we actually have moved down to the number six. Okay. Yeah. So, and that's why we draw them all. We just go down the list. So, um, what I the main key of my thoughts was is to continue to that home grant program as long as we can and you have people that's interested and so as long as we can continue to do it, I think it's a good good program. We had a good turnout this this turnaround. Does the council have any remarks? No, sir.

I just want to thank y'all again for being here and sharing y'all's stories. Um, beautiful and great testimony. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to say thank you'all for being here as well. Um, I'd also like to say I think this is the first time we've had the prayer lunchon in four years, five years somewhere. Yeah. Um, I think we have about between 60 and 65 there, something like that. So, I thought it turned out well. It did. Uh, I haven't got any of the numbers back on how much money we raised. Okay. But I'm going to donate that to the ministerial lines,

good. So, all right. Uh, that concludes 13. We're going to move into executive session. Uh the city council will now hold a closed executive meeting pursuant to the provision of the open meeting law chapter 551 government code Vernon Vernon's Texas codes annotated in accordance with the authority contained in section 551.072 to discuss real estate transaction.