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CITY OF M2007-R-09 I. CALL TO ORDER With
a quorum present, Mayor II. PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE Mayor
III. ROLL CALL In
attendance: Raul
G. Salinas, Mayor Mike
Garza, Council
Member, District I Hector
Garcia, Council
Member, District II Michael
Landeck, Council
Member, District III Johnny
Amaya, ouncil Member, District IV Johnny
Rendon, Council
Member, District V Gene
Belmares, Council
Member, District VI Juan
Chavez, Council
Member, District Juan
Ramirez, Mayor
Pro Tem, District VIII Gustavo
Guevara, Jr., City
Secretary Horacio
De Leon, Assistant
City Manager Jesus
Olivares, Assistant
City Manager IV. MINUTES Approval
of the minutes of Moved: Cm. Garza Second: Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 V. COMMUNICATIONS
Recognitions a. Recognition of Mr. Alfonso Cuellar, Jr.,
Mr. Danny Lopez, and Mr. Paul H. Young, Jr., inducted into The 2007 Laredo
Business Hall of Fame. Mayor Salinas publicly recognized Mr.
Paul Young for his induction into the 2007 Laredo Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Danny
Lopez and Mr. Alfonso Cuellar, Jr. were not present.
Grace Ojeda accepted the recognition award for Danny Lopez.
Communiqués a. Invitation by Margarita Araiza, Council Members to attend the Founders
Day Celebration on Ms. Araiza publicly invited the Mayor,
City Council and the public to their Founders Day Celebration which will be held on Cm. Garza welcomed the new City Manager Assistant
City Manager; and Thomas Rodriguez, thanked
Miguel Pescador, Parks and Recreation Director, and his staff for getting the
thanked Lynn Nava, Keep Laredo Beautiful
Director, for all the clean ups she has organized. Finally, he noted that the policeman that
were recently injured are in his prayers. Cm. Garcia mentioned the two officers
that were hospitalized and mentioned that they and their families are in there prayers.
He thanked Deutsch and Deutsch from Mall del Norte, for the fundraiser they
held. In addition, he congratulated
Paul Young for opening up a car lot in District
II. He welcomed Jesus Olivares,
Assistant City Manager and
Thomas Rodriguez, Cm. Landeck spoke on a dear friend, Dr.
Steven Lundst and his wife Barbara and asked for a moment of silence. He joined his colleagues by saying that the
police officers are dear to his heart. Cm. Amaya announced a Steak Plate Sale
to raise funds for scholarships. He
thanked his special projects committee members
and the public who contributed by purchasing tickets and all the business who donated
for the cause. He also thanked Council
Member Mike Garza, Council Member Hector
Garcia, Council Member Johnny Rendon and Council Member Belmares who assisted
in the Steak Plate Sale. Cm. Rendon mentioned that he was proud
to say that he was made a grandfather again. He commented that he was driving
downtown when he turned and saw the Plaza Theatre's
sign. He mentioned it brought a lot of
nostalgia to him because he met his wife there.
He added that police officers risk their lives daily and wished for a
quick recovery for
those wounded. Cm. Belmares welcomed aboard Jesus
Olivares, Assistant City Manager and Thomas Rodriguez, mentioned the police officers who were
injured and ask for them to be kept in our prayers.
He congratulated Cm. Amaya for the scholarship fund he had. Cm. Chavez wished all the mothers a
Happy Mother's Day. Mayor Pro Tempore Ramirez stated that on
Sunday, the Cinco de Mayo Celebration was held at Lodging Association President, Bob
Zachariah and members; Frank De Leon; BMP Radio; KGNS TV; Miller Light; Memo and
Keko Treviño; the City of Hotel and Lodging Association; AT&T;
Lupita Zepeda; Coca-Cola, Javier Rodriquez; Mike Pescador of City of Bernardo members, Mr. Vega and Sandra
Rocha Taylor; Dr. Maldonado and Blas Castañeda from the Chamber of Commerce; Taco Gonzalez; T.A.M.I.U.; Adriana from Job Corps.;
Monica Reyna from the Mexican Consulate; Christina Lara from the Border Patrol; Job Corps.; County's Precint 1 Constable Rudy
Rodriquez; Laredo Police Department; Department; the vendors; The Laredo
Outsiders Car Club; the Motorcycle Show lead by Javier Rodriguez from Coca-Cola; and the
Webb County Trail Riders Association. He also mentioned that he went to celebrated the Center's 23rd.
anniversary. Mayor Salinas wished a quick recovery to
those suffering from the shoot out the other day.
He reported that last week we had a historic event which was the
opening of the Eagle Copper Trade Company. He congratulated Deputy City Manager,
Cynthia Collazo, staff, and City Manager it should be. He stated that he went on a trip to of Thomas Rodriquez. Citizen comments Citizens
are required to fill out a witness card and identify themselves at the
microphone. Comments should be relevant to City business and
delivered in a professional manner. No
derogatory remarks will be
permitted. There is a time limit of
three minutes per speaker. Javier Aviña stated that the
that the City of Laredo Jesus Sanchez appeared before
the Council to see where the City is heading with the water issue
for the coloñias. Mayor Pro Tempore Ramirez asked
Council to direct staff to get a report on the status of the water issue for the
coloñias. VI. APPOINTMENTS TO
COMMISSIONS, BOARDS a. Appointment by Mayor Raul G. Salinas of
Manuel Canales and Gerardo Madrazo to the International Trade Blue Ribbon
Committee. Motion to approve. Moved:
Cm. Garza Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 b. Appointment by Mayor Pro-Tempore Juan Ramirez
of Rosie Reyes to the Third Party Funding Committee. Motion to approve. Moved:
Cm. Garcia Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 A. Request by Council Member Mike Garza 1. Discussion with possible action on
eliminating Supplemental Agendas. Cm. Garza stated setting up a workshop
for the committees to discuss consolidating or eliminating them. He commented that the
Council Members received information late on Friday evening and they can not call to ask any
questions on the item that have been added. He stated that since the Council
meetings are on Monday, he is reluctant to have issues come up so quickly. Motion to table. Moved:
Cm. Garza Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2. Discussion with possible action on
improvements and renovations to all fire stations and/or any other City facilities. (Co-sponsored by Mayor Raul G. Salinas) Cm. Garza stated that he
would like for the City Manager to do a facilities assessment. He reported that he and the Mayor
visited the fire station on Motion to instruct the City
Manager to do a facilities assessment. Moved:
Cm. Garza Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 B. Request by Council Member Dr. Michael
Landeck 1. Discussion with possible action regarding
the possible adoption of a modified Motion to table. Moved:
Cm. Landeck Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2.
Discussion with
possible action regarding the abolishment of Mayor appointed committees
consisting of City Council Members only; except those required by law and
discussing issues that were discussed in front of these committees in open
city council sessions with the possibility of adding a third city council
meeting per month if necessary.
(Co-sponsored by Council Member Juan Chavez) Cm. Landeck stated that
there were discussions about this issue with the consultants. He reported that the major
problem is the issue of transparency and having information before decisions are
made. He added that there is a large
amount of committees and it takes a lot of time and
effort. He noted that the dissemination
of the information from the committees to Council
does not work. He suggested having the
committees discuss the issues at the City
Council meetings and have staff come only one time.
He mentioned that Council can listen to
them and make decisions because there will be a quorum. Finally, he recommended having another City
Council meeting added every month. Cm. Garcia mentioned that
he had put this item on the agenda two months ago and currently we
are pending a workshop the first or second week in June to discuss the committees. Motion to postpone. Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
C. Request by Council Member Juan Chavez 1. Discussion with possible action on the sale
of surplus City owned vacant lots and residential property. Cm. Chavez reported he brought this item
up is because we are not in the business. He stated that he noticed that there is a
lot of vacant property in his District that is not being used and added that it
could be used for residential homes. individuals are taking advantage by
using the property that is located between residential areas.
He stated that there is a certain procedure that needs to be done to
get the fair market value, but they have to be placed
on the tax roll, so as to eliminate maintenance. 2. Status report on the recycling streets
project, with possible action.
Motion to table. Moved: Cm. Chavez Second: Cm. Garza
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 D. Request by Mayor Pro-Tempore Juan Ramirez 1. Discussion with possible action on allowing
private contractors to develop in the Zacate Creek
area. Mayor
Pro Tempore Ramirez presented some photos he took of his recent trip to developments
shown on the photos could happen in 100,000
visitors pass by Cm.
Garza inquired that if anyone wanted to come in on their own and developed
it, the Council
could allow then to do so. Mayor
Pro Tempore answered yes. He suggested to set aside land for developers and have
them turn in a proposal. He added that
City Council would then decide. Motion to instruct staff to get a report to
see what can be done with the Zacate Creek area. Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Ramirez Second: Cm. Garcia For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 2 Cm.
Garza Cm.
Landeck 2.
Discussion with
possible action on building a water park between Mayor Pro Tempore Ramirez stated that
when he was elected as Council Member seven years ago, he came with this idea of
having a water park on the Zacate Creek. He commented that at that time it would be
used as a commercial development and it would be situated between major arteries such
as areas.
He stated that if a water park could be developed into a nice water
park. He mentioned that with the splash parks we
have right now, we are spending money and we are not getting anything out of them
in return. He noted that if a water
park was built we could collect money on the use
of the water park. He added that we
could have added
employment for high school and college students. He asked City Council what are
the possibilities of doing this. Cm. Garza stated the feasibility study
was conducted on location which has different financial
impacts such as revenue generation, cost and environmental issues. He commented that he has a major concern on
relocating water park.
Motion to table. Moved:
Cm. Garza Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
7 Against: 1 Abstain: 0 Mayor
Pro Tempore Ramirez VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Public hearing and introductory ordinance
authorizing the City Manager to execute a two (2)
year concession agreement between the City of Motion to
open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Garza Second: Cm. Chavez For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 1 Cm.
Belmares There was
no public input. Mike
Pescador, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that four bids were submitted
and La Sabrosita was awarded the Concession agreement. Motion to
table. Moved: Cm. Chavez Second: Cm. Landeck For: 7 Against: 1 Abstain: 0 Mayor
Pro Tempore Ramirez 3. Public hearing and introductory ordinance
amending the City of 2007 Solid
Waste Fund Budget by appropriating a drawdown of $1,609,960.00 from opening balance and appropriating it for
equipment acquisition. The project consists of a Holt Cat Excavator, John
Deere Dozer and (2) two Articulated Dump Trucks. The bid price includes
provisions for a five year warranty. Motion to
open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Landeck Second: Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was
no public input. Motion to
close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Belmares |