CITY OF LAREDO

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

M2000-R-20

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

JULY 24, 2000

5:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

With a quorum present, Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores called the

meeting to order.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. ROLL CALL

In attendance:

Elizabeth G. Flores Mayor

Alfredo Agredano Council Member, District I

Louis H. Bruni Council Member, District II

John C. Galo Council Member, District III

Johnny Amaya Council Member, District IV

Eliseo Valdez, Jr. Council Member, District V

Joe A. Guerra Mayor Pro Tempore, District VI

Jose A. Valdez, Jr. Council Member, District VII

Juan Ramirez Council Member, District VIII

Cynthia Collazo Acting City Manager

Larry Dovalina Acting City Manager

Jaime Flores City Attorney

IV. MINUTES

None.

V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

Announcements

None.

Invitations

None.

Recognitions

a. Recognition to Sgt. Jose Jalomo, Jr., of the Laredo Police

Department who recently returned for the Federal Bureau of

Investigation's National Academy (FBINA) as he graduated

from the 201st Session, in Quantico, Virginia, on June 16,

2000.

Mayor Flores and the City Council recognized Sgt. Jose

Jalomo, Jr. for his dedication and achievements in law

enforcement and presented him with a plaque for his

outstanding accomplishments.

Communiques

Cm. Jose A. Valdez, Jr. read a letter from the Texas Department

of Transportation in connection with one of his agenda items

discussed at a previous meeting. The Texas Department of

Transportation reported that the city could not have a non-

commercial traffic lane established on the Mines Road between

Killiam Industrial Blvd. and Santa Maria Ave.

VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSION, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

a. Appointment of Ana Maria Montoya by Council Member Eliseo

Valdez, Jr., to the Laredo Commission for Women.

Motion to approve.

Moved : Cm. Galo

Second: Cm. Amaya

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. Public hearing to approve of an amendment to the contract with

the Texas Department of Health and Budget revision in the

amount of $12,000.00 for the La Familia Health Care Program of

the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning

September 1, 1999, through August 31, 2000.

INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE

Approval of an amendment of the contract with the Texas

Department of Health and Budget revision in the amount of

$12,000.00 for the La Familia Health Care Program of the City

of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning September

1, 1999, through August 31, 2000; and decrease revenue line

item 226-0000-323-4036 from $200,000 to $188,000 and

expenditure line item 226-6007 from $200,000 to $188,000.

Motion to open the public hearing.

Moved : Cm. Galo

Second: Cm. Bruni

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

There was no public input.

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

Moved : Cm. Guerra

Second: Cm. Agredano

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

Ordinance Introduction: City Council

2. Public hearing concerning an application by Angel R. Laurel,

Jr., amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo

by amending Ordinance 99-O-196, authorizing a name change on

the Conditional Use Permit, for used clothing sales, from Dan

iel B. Hastings, Sr. to Angel R. Laurel, Jr. on Lots 6 and 8,

Block 195, Western Division, located at 1119 Flores Avenue.

The current zoning for this site is CBD (Central Business

District). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended

approval o f the proposed amendment to the Conditional Use

Permit.

INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE

Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by

amending Ordinance 99-O-196, authorizing a name change on the

Conditional Use Permit, for used clothing sales, from Daniel

B. Hastings, Sr. to Angel R. Laurel, Jr. on Lots 6 and 8,

Block 195, Western Division, located at 1119 Flores Avenue;

providing for publication and effective date.

Motion to open the public hearing.

Moved : Cm. Galo

Second: Cm. Amaya

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

There was no public input.

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

Moved : Cm. Guerra

Second: Cm. E. Valdez

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

Ordinance Introduction: Cm. Ramirez

3. Public hearing concerning an application by N.W. Development

amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by

rezoning 1.680 acres, as further described by metes and

bounds, located on the northwest corner of Jacaman Rd. and the

Bartlett Avenue extension, from R-1 (Single Family Residential

District) to B-4 (Highway Commercial District). The Planning

and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the B-4 and

approval of a B-1 (Limited Business District).

INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE

Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by

rezoning 1.680 acres, as further described by metes and

bounds, located on the northwest corner of Jacaman Rd. and the

Bartlett Avenue extension, from R-1 (Single Family

Residential District) to B-4 (Highway Commercial District);

providing for publication and effective date.

Motion to open the public hearing.

Moved : Cm. Bruni

Second: Cm. Agredano

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

Ron Whitehawk, Cherokee Engineering, spoke in favor of the

zone change to a B-1 designation. He mentioned that this

zoning change would allow for the development of a convenience

store together with a gasoline station type facility. He

added that it will be a necessary neighborhood convenience and

asked that the City Council approve this zone change.

Keith Selman, Planning and Zoning Director, provided

information that his department favors the requested zone

change to a B-1 designation rather than to a B-4 designation.

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

Moved : Cm. Bruni

Second: Cm. Galo

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

Ordinance Introduction: Cm. Bruni

4. Public hearing amending the City of Laredo FY 1999-2000 Annual

Budget by creating 4 new positions for Parks and Recreation

Department, D. D. Hachar Recreation Center, authorizing the

City Manager to implement said amendment.

INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE

An ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 1999-2000 Annual

Budget by creating 4 new positions for the Parks and

Recreation Department, D. D. Hachar Recreation Center,

authorizing the City Manager to implement said amendment.

Motion to open the public hearing.

Moved : Cm. Galo

Second: Cm. Agredano

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

There was no public input.

Cm. Galo mentioned that this issue did not need to be

presented at the budget hearing because it had previously been

approved and funded.

Cm. Ramirez inquired as to the budgeted amounts for the four

new positions.

John Vidaurri, Parks and Recreation Director, responded that

the total amount for the four positions is $79,691.05.

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

Moved : Cm. Agredano

Second: Cm. Galo

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

Ordinance Introduction: City Council

5. Public hearing authorizing the transfer from Mineral Leases

Fund to the Capital Improvements Fund in the amount of

$115,080.00 to partially fund the development of a 4.16 acre

neighborhood park located in Eastwoods Subdivision at the 3600

block of Sheffield and Derby in District II; amending the City

of Laredo FY 1999-2000 Annual Budget for General Fund by

appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of

$108,201.28 as proceeds from the settlement of a lawsuit

styled City of San Beni to, et al., vs. P.G. & E. Gas

Transmission; transferring $66,920.00 to the Capital

Improvements Fund to provide additional funding for Eastwoods

Park and the COPS Substation to be located at Springfield Ave.

and Ryan St. in District V, and authorizin g the City Manager

to implement said Budget.

INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE

Authorizing the transfer from Mineral Leases Fund to the

Capital Improvements Fund in the amount of $115,080.00 to

partially fund the development of a 4.16 acre neighborhood

park located in Eastwoods Subdivision at the 3600 block of

Sheffield and Derby in District II; amending the City of

Laredo FY 1999-2000 Annual Budget for General Fund by

appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of

$108,201.28 as proceeds from the settlement of a lawsuit

styled City of San Benito , et al., vs. P.G. & E. Gas

Transmission; transferring $66,920.00 to the Capital

Improvements Fund to provide additional funding for Eastwoods

Park and the COPS Substation to be located at Springfield Ave.

and Ryan St. in District V, and authorizing the City Manager

to implement said Budget.

Motion to open the public hearing.

Moved : Cm. Galo

Second: Cm. Agredano

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

There was no public input.

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

Moved : Cm. Bruni

Second: Cm. Agredano

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

Ordinance Introduction: City Council

VIII. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

6. A. Request by Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores

1. Presentation of the Texas Border Infrastructure

Coalition's Legislative Agenda for the 77th

Legislative Session.

Mayor Flores thanked the members of the City Council

for the opportunity to present the Texas Border

Infrastructure Coalition Legislative Proposal. She

introduced coalition members who joined her in the

presentation before City Council. Ren e Gonzalez,

TBIC Coordinator, Horacio De Leon, TBIC

Transportation Tri-Chair and Blas Castaneda, TBIC

Education and Workforce Development Tri-Chair.

Following is a written summary of the presentation made

before City Council:

The TBIC was formed during the early part of the last

legislative session when it was apparent that the

legislature wanted a collaboration of efforts along the

Texas/Mexican Border. For Laredo, Council Members John

Galo and Joe Guerra were part of the team instrumental in

developing our agenda, plan of action, and lobbying

efforts. Mr. Rene Gonzalez will give us a brief reminder

of that success. I was appointed Chair of the Texas

Border Infrastructure Coalition, September, 1999. Since

then, the TBIC has met with many individuals representing

federal, state, and local government, industry, and the

private sector. We met with people from the border and

people who had never been to the border.

The purpose of our meetings was to understand other

Texan's vision for the border in terms of transportation

infrastructure, education, and workforce development. We

also met to present to others the important role the

border plays in the success of other Texas cities. We met

to discuss how the border could be better, not only for

the border but also for Texas. The TBIC members know

that after 1500 years of benign neglect, of having to "go

it alone", the border has been receiving some very wel

come attention. But TBIC members also recognize that the

economic future of Texas depends on Texas' stronger and

more immediate investment in the Border. The TBIC has

two reports to give you today that have been turned over

to the Senate Border Affairs committee, the Senate State

Affairs Committee, and the Border Legislatures with

recommendations for the 2001 Legislative Session. One

report is from the Transportation Committee and the other

from the Workforce and Education Committee.

Transportation Sub-Committee

We believe that the impact of NAFTA has been very

positive for the state as a whole. The border region can

surely identify with the positive by the decrease in the

unemployment rate and the increase in private investment.

But the border region can also identify with the negative

and this is the increase in NAFTA related traffic causing

accidents, infrastructure, maintenance, congestion, air

and nose pollution, and construction of highways

straining local economies and impacting the quality of

life of our citizens. For these reasons, the following

recommendations are made:

Recommendation 1: Compress TxDOT's $1.8 billion Border

Trade Transportation Task Force Plan

from ten years to five years.

Recommendation 2: Increase maintenance and expansion of

farm to market roads and off system

streets along the border linking NAFTA

traffic with NAFTA corridors.

Recommendation 3: Streamline right-of-way acquisition by

TxDOT on state funded projects.

Recommendation 4: Streamlining the environmental process

in the preliminary design phase of

TxDOT projects.

Recommendation 5: Review the current statutes and

procedures and create solutions that

will speed up the TxDOT consultant

selection process.

Recommendation 6: Amend the Transportation Code to

automatically waive local match

requirements for projects in the 53

economically disadvantaged counties

identified by TxDOT.

Recommendation 7: TxDOT must include local communities

in their decision making process for

the creation of state inspection

facilities.

Recommendation 8: The State of Texas should allow any

new transportation revenues and

innovative financing to be invested in

developing, improving, and

constructing NAFTA roadways that

provide access to international ports

along the Texas-Mexico border.

Workforce Development and Education

The mission developed by the Workforce Development &

Education Committee is to provide a better quality of

life for the citizens of the Texas-Mexico border region

by providing economic development opportunities,

sustainable livable wages, and promoti ng a clean,

healthy, and safe environment.

There is a gap that exists in Texas even in communities

that are experiencing growth and lower unemployment. A

lack of education and lack of skill gap that is keeping

our border residents from taking advantage of our great

Texas economy. Because so much depends on the border

residents and their ability to perform, we believe the

future of Texas depends on its willingness to close this

gap.

Recommendations by our workforce committee, if

implemented, will make it possible to help close the gap

that isolates communities from the economic mainstream of

Texas. If we work together, we can help prepare all of

our citizens to enter the labor force with the necessary

skills to earn salaries that support a higher standard of

living.

Recommendation 1: Enact legislation to permit the

creation of Workforce Development

Districts.

Recommendation 2: To effectively implement a

comprehensive array of Adult

Educational Training Programs required

to address economic development.

Recommendation 3: Appropriate a high level of funding

for the High Priority Development

Program which was enacted by the 76th

Legislature.

Recommendation 4: Increase appropriations for

universities serving distressed

communities.

Recommendation 5: Increase appropriations for the Skills

Development Fund.

Recommendation 6: Public Service Space.

Recommendation 7: The legislature needs to appropriate

funds to meet the federal matching

requirements for childcare funds that

are available to the State.

Recommendation 8: Authorize legislation that allows

Workforce Development Boards to

qualify for Telecommunications

Infrastructure Funds.

There is no denying that the Texas border is a very

important piece of the future of the great State of

Texas. Indeed, to the future of the United States of

America. For this reason, TBIC has formed alliances with

hardworking groups throughout the state in order to

understand and advocate for each other. This is why the

Transportation Committee and Workforce and Education

Committee have worked extra hard to deliver this

informative, current, and substantial proposal. The

recommendations were developed with input from

representatives of cities, counties, universities,

community colleges, private sector representatives,

international trade organizations, workforce development

organizations, and region service centers that

participated in a series of meetings, focus groups, and

discussions held throughout Texas.

The answers lie in cooperation and collaboration so that

we can have healthy competition. We have done lots of

work, but I suspect this is only the beginning. As we

approach the next legislative session, the TBIC asks that

you please make plans to help us promote the needs of the

Border and the TBIC --recommendations to Senators, State

Representatives, the Lt. Governor, and the Governor. We

need your help. We need the help of the private sector

and every citizen on the border. As you know, because of

our success, other coalitions have formed around the

state. We are prepared to continue to work with everyone

concerned to find the best possible solutions to the many

challenges we will face together in our effort to make

Laredo and other Border towns the best they can be.

Following is a summary provided by Rene Gonzalez, TBIC

Coordinator, to illustrate the history of infrastructure

along Texas borders and the goals to be realized by the

Coalition.

The Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition (TBIC) is made

up of representatives from communities along the Texas-

Mexico border region. The Coalition came together to

form a united front and develop key recommendations on

infrastructure needs of the border. Cities, counties,

businesses, community colleges, universities, and

individuals have partnered to develop strategies to

address the transportation and workforce needs of our

region. He mentioned that the Texas border continues to

be the fast est growing sector of the nation and includes

the largest inland ports in the world. NAFTA has and

will continue to benefit the State of Texas and the

entire nation. Our transportation needs as a result of

NAFTA have increased exponentially in the la st three

years.

Texas at Center of North-South Trade Axis:

The U.S.-Mexico border is the most crossed border in the

world, and Texas has the longest international border of

any state bordering either Mexico or Canada. Annually,

more than 200 million people cross the international

boundary. In 1996, more than 2.8 million trucks, 33

million cars, and 15 million pedestrians crossed the

Texas-Mexico border through 11 Texas ports of entry. In

Laredo alone, more than 2.7 million trucks crossed at the

Laredo port of entry in 1999.

Texas exports to Mexico in 1999 were $41,412,851,585.

Texas exports to Mexico have increased by 73% since 1994.

In 1999, Laredo alone handled about $32 billion in U.S.

exports and $35 billion in U.S. imports. Communities

throughout Texas and the United States are experiencing

positive economic impacts from trade flows through border

ports. At 15,000 jobs per $1 billion in exports, the $32

billion in U.S. exports through Laredo represent 500,000

U.S. jobs. At about $15.00 per hour or $30,000 per year

for manufacturing, that is about $15 billion in U.S.

wages.

Unpredictable (transportation) time periods of having

goods delivered to their facility as opposed to having

them delivered to the border increase the effective costs

by 20 to 30 percent. These costs are due to lack of

personnel at federal agencies charged with inspecting

trucks at the border, as well as, outdated computer

systems and inadequate infrastructure.

For the period of 1994 to 1998, the State of Texas

contributed 45 percent of the overall cost for border

infrastructure projects. California contributed 12

percent of the overall cost; Arizona and New Mexico

contributed 26 percent and 24 percent, re spectively.

California has two counties in the border region, Arizona

and New Mexico have four counties each and Texas has 23

counties in the border region. Arizona and New Mexico's

costs for border infrastructure projects were about $320

million a nd #363 million, respectively. The total costs

of border projects for the State of California for the

years 1994-1998 were about $1.25 billion. The total

costs of border projects for the State of Texas for the

years 1994-1998 were about $1.21 billion.

The transportation infrastructure goal of the TBIC is to

bring federal and state investment to the Texas border

region. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

has created tax-based pressure on local governments along

the Texas-Mexico border region. Local governments at all

border points of entry are faced with high cost of

maintenance, matching funds, and expansion needs in areas

of roadways, highways, international crossings, rail

facilities, commercial cargo airports, and sea shippi ng

cargo facilities. Local governments cannot be expected

to carry the financial burden of an entire state or

nation.

B. Request by Council Member Louis H. Bruni

1. Status report on City's acquisition of secondary

water source, with possible action.

Motion made to discuss this item in conjunction with

Item #27 (water source proposal).

Moved : Cm. Galo

Second: Cm. Bruni

For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0

C. Request by Council Member Jose A. Valdez, Jr.

1. Discussion with possible action to implement a parking

permit system for the downtown parking meters. (Co-

sponsored by Council Member Juan Ramirez)

Roberto Murillo, Traffic Director, provided the City

Council with some options regarding the parking permit

system. He reported that his department has been

making several changes in improvements to the parking

meters, creating different par king zones, replacing

some of the equipment, etc. The department purchased

electronic meters a few months ago and his crew will

be installing new electronic meters to about three-

fourths of the meters needed in the downtown area. He

mentioned that the City Council recently approved the

purchase of the remaining meters and the entire city

will have new meters in the near future.

One of the options of the new electronic meters is the

potential to utilize a swipe card. He commented that

the City Council would have to approve the purchase of

additional equipment and software in order to use this

particular feature on the new m eters. Also, his

department would have to make adjustments for the

selected time limits to be programmed on the parking

meters. He explained that the card would allow the

user to swipe the card for a set amount of time in .25

cent increments.

On a related matter, Mr. Murillo mentioned that his

department receives a great number of telephone calls

regarding residential parking spaces around the magnet

schools where the employees of the schools are parking

their vehicles in the residential neighborhoods. He

is currently researching this matter to see how other

cities handle this particular situation to allow only

the residents to park their vehicles in the

residential parking spaces.

D. Request by Council Member Juan Ramirez

1. Request for a status report on the Tecolotes contract

that includes, cost to the City per game, cost of

promotions, effectiveness of promotions, average

attendance and other information relevant to the

contract, with possible action.

Goyo Lopez, Veterans Field Coordinator, provided the

City Council with a status report as to operational

costs as well as the different types of promotional

features employed to increase attendance for the

games.

Season Tickets - A total of 198 season tickets have

been sold. Of this total, 173 fans purchased tickets

in the reserved section with the remaining 25 buying

seats in the general admission section. Nearly

$20,000.00 in season tickets has b een sold. Thirty-

nine season ticket holders remain on the accounts

receivable list because of the balance of $5,140.00

owed to the City.

Average Attendance -- As of our last game on July 15,

2000, the average paid attendance for the Tecos has

hovered at the 1,030 mark. $42,832.00 in revenue has