CITY OF LAREDO

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

M2007-R-016

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

AUGUST 20, 2007

5:30 P.M.

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

 

             With a quorum present, Mayor R. Salinas called the meeting to order.

 

II.                PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Mayor R. Salinas led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

III.             ROLL CALL

 

             In attendance:

                                                                       

             Raul Salinas,                                                                Mayor 

 Mike Garza,                                                                Council Member, District I

             Hector Garcia,                                                             Council Member, District II

             Michael Landeck,                                                        Council Member, District III

             Johnny Amaya,                                                            Council Member, District IV

             Johnny Rendon,                                                           Council Member, District V

             Gene Belmares,                                                           Mayor Pro Tem, District VI

             Juan Chavez,                                                               Council Member, District VII

             Juan Ramirez,                                                              Council Member, District VIII

             Gustavo Guevara, Jr.,                                                  City Secretary

             Carlos Villarreal,                                                          City Manager

             Cynthia Collazo,                                                          Deputy City Manager

             Horacio De Leon,                                                        Assistant City Manager

             Jesus Olivares,                                                             Assistant City Manager

             Melissa Saldaña,                                                          Assistant City Attorney

 

IV.              MINUTES

 

 Approval of the minutes of May 7, 2007 and May 14, 2007.

 

             Motion to approve.

             Moved:  Cm. Amaya

             Second:  Cm. Garza

             For:  8                                                 Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

V.               COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

 

 Recognitions

 

a.       Recognition of the Laredo Independent School District, on their 125th Anniversary Celebration.

 

Mayor Salinas read a Proclamation celebrating the Laredo Independent School District’s 125th anniversary.

 

Superintendent Veronica Guerra, Jesus Guerra, Mina Montes, and Peter Montalvo were present to receive the Proclamation.

 

b.      Recognizing Jesse Sanchez III, a UISD boxing student for winning the Ring Side World Championship in Kansas, Missouri on August 3, 2007.

 

Mayor Salinas and the City Council presented a Seven Flags recognition to Jesse Sanchez III from Davalos Boxing Gym.

 

c.       Recognizing Margaret Ann Garza for winning both Miss Belleza Latina 2008 and Most Photogenic in Orlando, Florida on July 2007.

 

Miss Garza was publicly recognized by Mayor Salinas and City Council.

 

d.      Recognizing David Silva, a Library Department Employee, for being inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame with a Silver Live Award in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 4, 2007.

     

      Mayor Salinas and City Council recognized David Silva for his award.

 

e.       Recognition of the Budget Department on receiving the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 16th consecutive year.

 

Mayor Salinas and City Council publicly recognized the Budget Department.

 

f.        Recognition of Alejo Q. Gutierrez of the Bridge Department, on his selection as August Employee of the Month.

 

Mayor Salinas presented Alejo Q. Gutierrez with a Certificate of Recognition for being selected as the August Employee of the Month.

 

Communiqués

 

Mayor Salinas asked for a moment of silence for Lauro Valdez, an El Metro Employee who passed away in August, 2007.

 

Cm. Garza stated that Mr. Lauro Valdez was considered part of our family and sent out his condolences to his family.  He congratulated the Del Mar Softball Little League team.  He concluded by stating that public schools will be starting and to be careful with kids going to school.

 

Cm. Garcia asked to contact the Traffic Department if problems arise in traffic control.  He congratulated Franklin Leal for his success in the Galavision journalist competition.

 

Cm. Landeck congratulated Franklin Leal.  He also congratulated the Laredo Independent School District on their 125th anniversary.

 

Cm. Amaya reported that on Monday, September 3, 2007, the 4th Annual Backpack Giveaway will take place.  He stated that they will be issuing 200 backpacks filled with school supplies to the less fortunate students.

 

Cm. Rendon gave his condolences to the Valdez family.  He reported that the Supply Our Students program was very successful.  He reported that over $18,000 was collected and it will be divided by the school districts.

 

Mayor Pro Tempore Belmares extended his condolences to the Valdez family.  He congratulated the Del Mar little League. 

 

Cm. Chavez reported that he will be riding around District VII and will be handing out 75 backpacks.  He mentioned that on Friday he will be taking several students to Wal-Mart for a shopping spree.

 

Cm. Ramirez gave his condolences to the Valdez family.  He congratulated Franklin Leal for his performance in Florida.  He congratulated the Laredo Independent School District on their 125th anniversary.

 

Citizen comments

 

Tonie Gamboa and Araceli Loredo spoke on behalf of the Laredo U.S. Army Reserve wives and invited the Mayor, Council and public in welcoming home six soldiers returning to Laredo on September 7, 2007 at Caesar’s Reception Hall.

 

Dr. J.J. Godines and Dr. Hector Gonzalez spoke on keeping Laredo a smoke free city as per a report from the Blue Ribbon Health Committee “Exhibit A”.

 

 

Exhibit A:

Report From; the City of Laredo

Blue Ribbon Panel on Public Health.

To: Honorable Raul G. Salinas, Mayor

       Members of the City Council

Date:  August 17, 2007

 

We had previously given you our recommendation to keep the current ordinance that prohibits smoking in all public places in its current form and that you make no amendments.  We would like to reiterate this recommendation to maintain a smoke free environment in all public places and keep the ordinance as is with no amendments.

 

As your “Public Health Issues Blue Ribbon Committee” with mission statement of “As concerned health care leaders, the Blue Ribbon Committee on Health Issues is committed to promoting the health and safety of Laredo by identifying existing and emerging health and health care issues, recommending specific actions to the Mayor and City Council”; we are recommending that it is imperative we safeguard the health and well being of our community, especially as we continue to plan and recommend strategies for a healthier Laredo.

 

At a time when the entire nation is moving toward a smoke free environment, Laredo has taken a pivotal step toward protecting our public health, please do not go backward.

 

Thank you for your trust in us and we look forward to working with you on this committee.

 

 

Janet Bowman from Tennessee, and who is now a teacher in Laredo, spoke about the robberies downtown.

 

Christopher Craddock from Stop Child Abuse and Neglect spoke on the smoking ordinance.  He asked to keep it as a model for other cities.

 

 

VI.              APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

 

a.       Appointment by Council Member Johnny Amaya of J.J. Perez to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Cm. Garza

Second:  Cm. Amaya

For:  8                                            Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

b.      Appointment by Council Member Johnny Amaya of Gilbert Mancha Jr., to the Transportation & Traffic Safety Advisory Committee.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Cm. Garza

Second:  Cm. Amaya

For:  8                                            Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

VII.           GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

 

1.            

A.                 Request by Mayor Raul G. Salinas

 

1.   Discussion with possible action on the status of the Ethics Committee and the naming of the Mayor’s and City Council Member’s appointees to this Commission.

 

      Mayor Salinas stated that he wants to make sure that we are the watch dogs of the City.  He suggested having an open discussion to discuss the guidelines and objectives of this committee.

 

      Cm. Garza reported that Council had received examples of ethic commissions from other cities.  He commented that a timeline be set up.  He stated to go forward and establish the commission.

 

      Carlos Villarreal, City Manager, stated that if the information does not exist, he will make sure to get it.  He commented that he will get similar ordinances from different cities.

 

                        Motion to have the Ethics Committee consist of one appointee from                                     each Council Member and one from the Mayor.

 

                  Moved:  Cm. Landeck

                  Second:  Cm. Amaya

                  For:  8                                Against:  0                                Abstain:  0

 

B.                 Request by Council Member Mike Garza

 

1.      Discussion with possible action on requesting all City employees to report public works issues and/or problems.

 

                                          Cm. Garza stated that the wording used in the item does not do justice                                                    to what he was requesting.  He suggested that every city employee fill                                       out a form reporting any problems at the end of the day.  He stated that                                     there are approximately 2,700 employees that can help report                                                         problems.

 

                                          Carlos Villarreal, City Manager, agreed with Cm. Garza and stated               

                                          that a simple form will be done for each department. 

 

C.                 Request by Mayor Pro-Tempore Gene Belmares

 

1.      Discussion with possible action interpreting, defining and amending the truck route ordinance.

 

                                          Keith Selman, City Planning Director, reported that the point in                                                  question is on Del Mar and McPherson where the H.E.B.’s are located.                                    He stated that if a truck servicing the HEB by I-35 could continue to                                                      travel down Del Mar to the other H.E.B. located at Del Mar and                                               McPherson as opposed to leaving H.E.B. and getting back on the truck                                           route then taking an alternative route and accessing the other H.E.B.                                                by going through the base, going down Gale St. and then getting on                                                      McPherson..  He mentioned that the Ordinance states that in that type                                             of situation where there is a multiple destination, the least amount of                                                     travel on a roadway that is not designated as a truck route must be                                                  taken.  He added that because of this, the truck servicing H.E.B. must                                             go on the truck route, get on Gale and then get on McPherson to its                                                     destination.

 

      Carlos Villarreal, City Manager, reported that he spoke with Police  Chief Augustin Dovalina about having the Public Information Officer call the businesses and inform them that they should not use Del Mar.  He requested that Chief Dovalina place someone there to send a message to the truckers. He recommended having a stronger Ordinance that restricts the number of hours that they can have all this movement. He suggested having movement from midnight till 6:00 a.m.

 

2.      Discussion with possible action on installing speed humps on Denmark Street between International Boulevard and Woodridge Drive.

 

                                          Roberto Murillo, Traffic Department Director, reported that he is                                           proposing three speed humps at a cost of $7,400.00 total.  He stated                                           that each speed hump costs $1,800 and a device that was replaced                                           cost $2,000.

 

                        Motion to approve and use Cm. Belmares’s discretionary funds.

 

                        Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Belmares

                        Second:  Cm. Ramirez

                        For:  8                                Against:  0                                Abstain:  0

 

3.      Discussion with possible action on appropriating funds for a Street light on Canterbury Lane and Downing Street in the Regency Subdivision.

 

                                          Roberto Murillo, Traffic Department Director, reported that the cost of                                           the labor will be $3,100.

 

                        Motion to approve and use Cm. Belmares’s discretionary funds.

 

                        Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Belmares

                        Second:  Cm. Rendon

                        For:  8                                Against:  0                                Abstain:  0

 

D.                 Request by Council Member Juan Ramirez

 

1.      Discussion with possible action on the status of the El Portal Project.

 

                          Mario Maldonado, Bridge Director, reported that they provided a                             staff report on Friday’s package.  He stated that the retail space is                                 complete and they are in the process of turning the property over to                                 the Kaledis’.  He commented that the Building Department did a                                           final inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued as                                  soon as the interior is complete.