CITY OF LAREDO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS
5:30 P.M.
MINUTES
M-98-R-16 APRIL 6, 1998
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
JOSE R. PEREZ, JR., COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT I
LOUIS H. BRUNI, " , DISTRICT II
ALFONSO I. "PONCHO" CASSO, " , DISTRICT III
CECILIA MAY MORENO, " , DISTRICT IV
ELISEO VALDEZ, JR., " , DISTRICT V
JOE A. GUERRA, " , DISTRICT VI
CONSUELO "CHELO" MONTALVO, " , DISTRICT VIII
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR., CITY SECRETARY
FLORENCIO PENA, III, CITY MANAGER
JAIME L. FLORES, CITY ATTORNEY
Motion to excuse Cm. Alvarado.
Moved : Cw. Montalvo
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Cm. Casso was not present.
Cm. Casso came in at 5:35 p.m.
Motion to move up item IX-Communications to recognize various
City of Laredo employees who participated in United Way.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Motion to waive the regular order of business and move up item
number 58 and 61 for consideration.
Moved : Cm. Valdez
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Motion to waive the regular order of business and move items
D(1), D(3), 48 and 45 for discussion and consideration.
Moved : Cm. Guerra
Second: Cm. Valdez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
IV. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES
2. Second reading amending Ordinance No. 92-O-113 granting
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company the non-exclusive right
to use the rights-of-way in the City for its
telecommunications business, by amending Section 4 to extend
the franchise term for a period of two months from the date
of expiration of March 31, 1998 until May 30, 1998; providing
for publication and effective date.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
3. Closing as a public easement that section of the 3000 block
of Ross Street between India and Canada Avenues, situated in
the Eastern Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas and
providing for an effective date.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
4. Authorizing the granting and conveyance of a 12 foot wide
utility easement located behind the Freddie Benavides Outdoor
Recreational Complex to Central Power and Light Company, and
authorizing the City Manager to execute any necessary
documents of conveyance, in order to allow for the provision
of electrical services to the New Laredo National Bank South
Branch building located at the intersection of State Highway
83 at Chacota Street said 12 foot wide utility easement being
more particularly described by metes and bounds.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
5. Authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with the City
of Laredo for approximately 4,000 square feet of office space
constituting the Second Floor of Building No. 132 located at
4719 Maher Avenue.
a. Lease term is for one (1) year commencing May 1, 1998 and
ending April 30, 1999, and may be extended for four (4)
terms of one (1) year each ending April 30, 2000, April
30, 2001, April 30, 2002, and April 30, 2003.
b. Monthly rent shall be $3,200.00, and will be adjusted
annually during the primary and extension terms of this
lease according to changes in the Consumer Price Index.
This office space was previously occupied by the Airport
Director's Administrative Staff.
Cm. Casso wants staff to provide Council with a report as to
how many employees were projected to work on this building
to work efficiently and how many are working in this facility
at the present time. How many are working at the present
moment, what the goal is, and what the future plans are.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
6. Authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with South
Texas Workforce Development Board for approximately 4,234
square feet constituting Building No. 1054 located at 4812
North Bartlett Avenue.
a. Lease term is for one (1) year commencing March 1, 1998
and ending February 28, 1999, and may be extended for one
(1) year ending February 29, 2000.
b. Monthly rent shall be $3,600.00, and will be adjusted
annually during the primary and
extension term of this lease. Previous monthly rent was
$3,437.89.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
7. Authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to the
Lease and Specialty Gift Shop Concession Agreement approved
by Ordinance No. 97-O-322 dated January 5, 1998, between the
City of Laredo and Jesus Garcia. Said amendment will include
the requirements for operating a Retail News/Gift Shop
Concession and because of a typing error change the square
footage from 1,556 to 556.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
V. FINAL READINGS
Motion to waive the final reading of ordinances #98-O-091,
#98-O-092, #98-O-093, #98-O-094, #98-O-095, #98-O-096,
and #98-O-097.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
8. 98-O-091 Rescinding Section 5-4: No Permits Required for
Agricultural Buildings, of the Subdivision
Ordinance Handbook; and providing for publication
and effective date. (City Council)
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
9. 98-O-092 Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of
Laredo by authorizing the issuance of a Conditional
Use Permit for auto wrecker service and impound lot
on all of Block 1559, Eastern Division, located at
2601 Guadalupe St.
(City Council)
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
10. 98-O-093 Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of
Laredo by rezoning 0.755 acres as further described
by metes and bounds located on Remington Dr., from
R-1 (Single Family Residential District) to R-1A
(Single Family Reduced Area District).
(City Council)
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
11. 98-O-094 Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of
Laredo by rezoning Lot 7A, Block 906, Western
Division, located at 3502 Santa Maria Ave., from
B-1 (Limited Business District) to B-3 (Community
Business District). (Mario G. Alvarado)
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
12. 98-O-095 Amending provisions of Section 24.73 of the Laredo
Land Development Code relating to permits for the
drilling, re-entry, or recompletion of oil and gas
wells, specifically Section 24.73.1 (4)(a),
providing distance restrictions for future
development, 24.73.3, providing enforcement for
ordinance violations, and Section 24.73.4 (12),
requiring a fee for re-entry and recompletion
operations, and Appendix "A" amending the
definition of "Recompletion Operations".
(City Council)
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
13. 98-O-096 Creating a special restricted revenue fund in
accordance with the Canseco Foundation's Endowment
in the amount of $50,000.00 to the Laredo Public
Library for children's programming and amending the
City of Laredo FY 1997-98 Annual Budget to reflect
the creation of this fund. The fund will be named
the Canseco Foundation's Children Endowment Fund.
(City Council)
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
14. 98-O-097 Amending the City of Laredo FY 1997-98 Annual
Budget by reclassifying ten fire fighters to ten
assistant driver positions authorized by City
Council to be effective upon adoption, and
authorizing the City Manager to implement said
budget. (City Council)
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
VI. RESOLUTIONS
15. 98-R-051 Authorizing the City Manager to accept $5,000.00,
from the Office of the Comptroller for funding a
Tobacco Compliance Program. This money will be
used to pay overtime wages to Laredo Police Crime
Prevention officers for the enforcement of Senate
Bill 55. This will be the first year the City will
enter into this agreement and is at no cost to the
City.
Motion to approve Resolution #98-R-051.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
16. 98-R-052 Directing publication of notice of intention to
issue City of Laredo, Texas Combination Tax and
Airport Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series
1998, in the principal amount of $1,450,000.00,
for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the
City's contractual obligations for purpose of
acquisition of land at the Municipal Airport in
connection with the settlement of a lawsuit in
reference to noise abatement at the City's Airport
and the payment of legal and fiscal fees in
connection with this project.
Motion to approve Resolution #98-R-052.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
17. 98-R-054 Approval of a resolution authorizing the City
Manager to submit an application to the United
States Environmental Protection Agency for a grant
in the amount of $100,000.00, with the City
designating $20,000.00, in matching funds and/or
in-kind services for a total of $120,000.00, to
implement a Household Hazardous Waste Collection
and Proper Disposal Program (HHWC&PDP) for a total
of three events in 1998 and 1999.
Motion to approve Resolution #98-R-054.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
18. 98-R-055 Authorizing the City Manager to enter into an
Agreement (Convenio) between the City of Laredo
and the Secretaria de Comunicaciones Y Transportes
("SCT") of Mexico for the construction of the
Laredo IV - Nuevo Laredo III International Bridge.
Motion to approve Resolution #98-R-055.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
19. 98-R-056 Accepting the donation of seven parcels of land
from the heirs of Mr. Isaac Hirsch. Said parcels
being Lots 2, 3, 8, and 9, Block 158, Western
Division, all of Block 724, Western Division, and
Lot 1 and the West 1/2 of Lot 2, Block 1082,
Eastern Division, City of Laredo, Webb County,
Texas.
Motion to approve Resolution #98-R-056.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
20. 98-R-057 Declaring the public necessity to acquire the
"Surface Only" of one parcel of land necessary as
Right-of-Way, for the widening of Gallagher Avenue
from the North right-of-way line of Calton Road,
north to the South right-of-way line of Hillside
Road. Said parcel being the East ten feet of Block
No. 3 and the West fifteen feet of Blocks Nos. 2,
15, and 18, in the Calton Gardens Subdivision No.
1, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas, and
authorizing the City Attorney to initiate eminent
domain proceedings to acquire said parcel as
Right-of-Way if staff is unable to acquire through
negotiations due to inability to agree to a
purchase price, conflict of ownership, owner's
refusal to sell, and/or inability to locate the
listed owner. This may initiate process of
revolving special use permit.
Motion to approve Resolution #98-R-057 with a
correction to change "East ten feet" to "East
fifteen feet".
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
21. 98-R-058 Amending Resolution No. 98-R-034 by which the City
Council declared the public necessity to acquire
the "Surface Only" of one parcel of land necessary
for the construction of the Laredo Northwest
International Fourth Bridge, being Parcel 1
931.1786 acres of land, more or less), out of
Porcion 19, Abstract 47, City of Laredo, Webb
County, Texas. Said amendment will provide for the
acquisition of an additional 7.4147 acres of land
for an amended total of 38.5933 acres of land to
be acquired.
Motion to approve with the correction to change
"931.1786 acres" to "(31.1786 acres ".
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: r 7 Against: : Ab Abn: 0:h
H
2. 98-R-059 059 prova solution auth |thong the City
Manhe to submsubai pplip lio tontte Uniten
States Env Ennientl tal Protection Agency for two
grants in the amount of $100,000.00, with the City
designating $100,000.00, in matching funds and/or
in-kind services for a total of $200,00.00, to
construct a permanent household hazardous waste
facility.
Motion to approve with the correction change of
"two grants" to "a grant".
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
VII. MOTIONS
23. Approval of bid specifications and authorization to advertise
for bids for the following:
a) Fire Hose - Fire Department
b) Water Taps, Annual Contract - Utilities Department
c) Asphalt Repairs, Annual Contract - Utilities Department
d) Preventive Maintenance Contact, Variable Frequency Drives,
- Utilities Department
e) City Hall Building Telecommunication Re-Wiring Project
f) Police/Fire Department Uniform Contract
(6 m)
g) Park Equipmeipme Playglound StuStrre, SantaantaPrk
h h A tentative ive award date is scs scheduled for
May 18, 1998.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
24. Approval of the construction plans and specifications and
authorization to advertise for bids for the widening of
Bustamante Street between Meadow Avenue to Foster and the
widening of Meadow Avenue between Saunders Street to
Bustamante Street, with tentative award on June 1, 1998.
This project is part of an EDA Grant Project No. 08-01-3080
Airport Medical Infrastructure Improvements. Funding is
available in the EDA Airport/Medical Park Fund.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
25. Approval of selection and authorization to negotiate an
engineering contract with Sherfey Enei g C ma mpan Laredo, Texas, to to ide sur eys, desidn agd prepprepion ofh
plans and and specifications for an 18 Inch Diameter Sewer Line
on Hillside Road from Yeary Street to IH-35 to relieve a 90
block area of sanitary sewer surcharges. Funding is
available in the Sewer System Hillside Trunk Line.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: Abstain: 0
26. Approval of the selection of consultants and authorization to
negotiate six (6) engineering contracts to design, prepare
plans and specifications and cost estimates for the City of
Laredo 1997-98 Certificate of Obligation Issue Projects:
a. 400 W. Plum Street at San Francisco Avenue Drainage
Improvements to WSBC Civil Engineers
b. 1200 Frost Street at Lyon Avenue Drainage Improvements to
WSBC Civil Engineers
c. Alma Pierce Elementary School and Trautmann Elementary
School Sidewalks to G.G. Salinas Engineering Company
d. Chaparral Drainage Improvements to Porras Engineering
Company.
e. Texas Avenue/Price Street Drainage Improvements to Crane
Engineering Company
f. Calton Road Widening, adjacent to the New Main Library to
Mejia Engineering Company
Funding is available in their respective construction project
account from the C.O. Bond Issue.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
27. Approval of selection and authorization to negotiate an
engineering contract with Smith Banc Equipment, Inc., San
Antonio, Texas, to provide engineering services to include a
feasibility study, surveys, design and preparation of plans
and specifications for the Laredo Bridge Department Security
Systems at the three Laredo International Bridges and the
proposed Fourth International Bridge. Funding is available
in the Bridge System Toll Plaza Improvements.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
28. Approval of selection and authorization to negotiate an
architectural contract with Design Group International,
Laredo, Texas, to provide architectural services for
Repairing and Remodeling the Canizales Gym located at 1600
Guadalupe Street. Funding is available in the 1998
Contractual Obligation Issue.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
29. Approval of selection and authorization to negotiate with
EMCON Engineering and Environmental Services, Austin, Texas,
for consulting engineering services for an automated leachate
collection system at the City of Laredo Type I Landfill
located on Highway 359 which is to include surveying,
engineering design, specifications for pumps, sensors,
control panels, other system components and storage facility,
preparation of specifications, construction plans, cost
estimates, and construction management as required for
compliance with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission's Subtitle D Requirements of 30 TAC 330 Municipal
Solid Waste Regulations. Funding is available in the
Landfill Project Engineer Fees.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
30. Authorizing the City Manager to issue a Request For Proposals
to Local Veterinarians to furnish professional services
during the Pet Spring Rabies Vaccination Campaign.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
31. Award of annual contract to the SOLE BIDDER, Aldo T.
Rodriguez DBA Laredo Electric Motor Service, Laredo, Texas,
in the estimated amount of $30,000.00, for providing electric
motor repair service for the Utilities Department. The bid
pricing will be firm during the contract period and all
repair work will be secured on an as need basis. The
contract pricing is approximately the same as the previous
contract period. Funding is available in the Utilities
Department, Wastewater Collection Division -maintenance and
Utilities Department, Water Treatment Division - maintenance
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
32. Award of contract to the SOLE BIDDER, Sani Pak Pacific,
Tracy, CA., in the amount of $71,060.00, for the purchase of
a high vacuum/high garbage sterilization system for the new
passenger terminal. This system is required by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to properly discard
garbage arriving in international commercial passenger
flights. Delivery is expected within ninety days. Funding is
available in the Airport Fund, Capital Outlay -
machinery/equipment other than auto.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
33. Award of contract to the LOW BIDDER, Techsas, Houston, Texas,
in the amount of $20,101.50, for the purchase and
installation of twelve pneumatic pumps at the City Landfill.
The pumps will be used to collect groundwater samples at the
City of Laredo Landfill as required by Texas Natural
Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) Municipal Solid
Waste regulations. The City received a total of two bids for
this purchase. Funding is available in Landfill Capital
Outlay.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
34. Award of six month rental contracts to the following LOW
BIDDERS:
a) Holt Co. of Laredo,
Laredo, Texas $164,400.00,
2 - 23 cubic yard
scrapers,
1 - water wagon
b) Nueces Power Equipment,
Laredo, Texas $ 15,600.00,
1 - sheepfoot compactor
This equipment will be used by the Public Works Department
for the earth work needed at the Father McNaboe Park. This
equipment will be needed for a period of six months. The
City received a total of three bids for this contract.
Funding is available in the Capital Improvement Fund Father
McNaboe Park.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cw. Moreno
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
35. Award of contract to the LOWEST BIDDER, TAC Environmental
Co., Laredo, Texas, in the amount of $6,900.00, for the
removal of two - 5,000 gallon underground storage tanks and
ancillary equipment from the City of Laredo Airport Fuel
Farm. Funding is available in the Airport Fuel Farm.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
36. Award of thirty six month lease purchase contract to the LOW
BIDDER, Sames Motor Co., Laredo, Texas, in the amount of
$228,286.20, for the lease of twelve vehicles for the Police
Department. These vehicles will be used by the
administrative staff and the detective division. At the end
of the lease contract the City will own the vehicles. The
City received a total of three bids for the lease of these
vehicles. Funding is available in the Police Trust Fund
budget.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
37. Award of contract to the LOW BIDDER MEETING SPECIFICATIONS,
Pace Analytical Services, Inc., Houston, Texas, in the
estimated amount of $15,648.00, to provide laboratory
analytical services for the groundwater samples collected at
the City of Laredo Landfill as required by Texas Natural
Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) Municipal Solid
Waste regulations. Samples will be taken on a quarterly
basis, testing for ten different parameters. Pace Analytical
has extensive experience with all TNRCC requirements.
Funding is available in the Landfill - Contractural Services.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
38. Award of a construction contract to the LOWEST BIDDER, BNC
Environmental Services, Inc., Houston, Texas, in the amount
of $530,820.00, for the construction of an approximately
seven (7) acre composite landfill liner for Type I Cells 9
and 10. Funding is available in the Landfill Improvements
Other Than Buildings.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
39. Approval of change order no. 1, a decrease of $10,390.00, for
the balance of quantities actually constructed in place,
acceptance of the Paving of International Blvd. Project, from
Salinas Key Subdivision to the west end of Meadowlands
Subdivision, approximately 1,800 L.F., and approval of final
payment in the amount of $33,465.25 to Libcon, Inc. The
original contract amount was $304,542.50. This change order
bring the total contract amount to $294,152.50. Funding is
available in the Capital Improvement Fund International Blvd.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
40. Approval of change order no. 1, a decrease of $13,211.80,
acceptance of the Alma Pierce Elementary School Drainage and
the Herradura Rancho Viejo Drainage Improvements Projects,
and approval of final payment in the amount of $47,522.34 to
McLean Construction Inc., Killeen, Texas. The original
contract amount was $261,012.40. This change order bring the
total contract amount to $247,800.60. Funding is available
in the Capital Improvement Fund Herradura/Rancho Viejo
Drainage.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
41. Approval of change order no. 1, a decrease of $2,165.00, for
the balance of quantities actually constructed in place,
acceptance of the Southgate Pilot Channel Improvements, and
approval of final payment in the amount of $67,592.24, to
Pete Gallegos Paving, Inc. The original contract amount was
$333,823.00. This change order will bring the total contract
amount to $331,658.00. Funding is available in the Drainage
Improvements - Southgate Pilot Channel.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
42. Rescinding the contract awarded to Powell Watson Motors,
Laredo, Texas, in the amount of $57,924.00, for the purchase
of three, 3/4 ton, dedicated CNG engine trucks. The engine
bid by Powell Watson Motors was not a dedicated CNG engine
but rather a gasoline engine that was ready for CNG
conversion. Staff is requesting authorization to purchase
these vehicles from the next bidder, Philpott Motors, Port
Neches, Texas, in the amount of $61,797.00. Funding is
available from 1998 contractual obligation issue proceeds and
from surplus in previous CO issues.
Staff also requests authorization to purchase two additional
trucks with the bid pricing from the contract awarded on
03/16/98. One 1/2 ton extended cab truck with a dedicated CNG
engine, will be purchased from the low bidder, Sames Motor
Co., Laredo, Texas, in the amount $21,650.00. This truck will
be assigned to the creek cleaning operation and funding is
available from the monies allocated for the purchase of creek
cleaning equipment. A 1/2 ton regular cab truck with a CNG
bi-fuel system, will be purchased from the LOW BIDDER,
Philpott Motors, Port Neches, Texas, in the amount of
$18,864.00. This truck will be assigned to the Health
Department's WIC program. The Texas Department of Health
authorized the purchase of one truck from WIC surplus funds.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cw. Moreno
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
43. Refund of property taxes in various amounts to the following
individuals or companies:
a. J.C. Trevino III, Trustee, in the amount of $1,946.33 as a
result of a clerical error.
b. Norwest Mortgage Inc. in the amount of $730.58 as a result
of an overpayment.
c. The Laredo National Bank in the amount of $514.23 as a
result of a clerical error.
d. First (1st) Nationwide Meeting in the amount of $524.65 as
a result of an overpayment.
e. U.S. Small Business Administration in the amount of
$798.25 as a result of a clerical error.
f. North House Inc. in the amount of $1,329.08 as a result of
a clerical error.
Motion approve.
Moved : Cw. Moreno
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
44. Motion approving the Early Voting Branch sites and Early
Voting Temporary Mobile locations.
Motion approve.
Moved : Cw. Moreno
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
VIII. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
45. Presentation by Frank Leach of the Laredo Development
Foundation regarding an incentives package for Laredo/Webb
County economic development.
Mr. Frank Leach, Director of LDF, stated that the City
Manager along with people from the Economic Advisor Council
had asked LDF to make recommendations to the City on an
incentives package and in ways in which the LDF Board did and
approved this report on March 12th.
He explained that over the last year or so they have seen
more and more industrial prospects of all kinds visiting
Laredo and every prospect that comes into town starts by
gathering information and by asking, does Laredo grant tax
abatements? Does Laredo have enterprise zones? The answer
up to now is no. He said the most recent policy statement,
from the City was done in April 1990/91, at that time the
City decided that they would not be granting incentives or
tax abatements or anything else because the City needed to
spend money on infrastructure and other things.
He went through several points that were covered in arriving
at their decision.
On incentives in general, he said it is a very controversial
issue. The most controversial is of course, granting tax
abatements. There are many arguments against that, and the
very principle being the one that the city arrived at before,
that you are better off to use tax money to do infrastructure
and other kinds of improvements than you are in granting
abatements to individual businesses and there are others
including one, that says that if a company needs a tax
abatement, then how solid is the company.
He spoke of the arguments against it and the arguments in
favor. In favor of course, that every body else does it,
this is the classic, we have to do it because other people do
it, it is a copycat thing, and in a lot of cases being a
copycat is not good. In this case however, since everybody
in the state is offering some form of incentives or others,
you may or may not get the chance to get farther into
negotiations if you don't offer something, if the community
is not evidencing some interest in attracting industry.
Areas of Agreement: Those on both sides of the issue agree
that if incentives are used, they should:
(a) be specifically targeted to fit the priorities of the
local strategic plan,
(b) be individually negotiated and measured for cost-benefit
to the community.
(c) be contractual, there must be an actual contract between
the City and the County and the industry and that
contract must be fully disclosed publicly
(d) it must be tied to employment, wages & training programs
(e) be periodically evaluated, and overhauled as necessary
(f) they must be offered to local companies, especially small
business, for expansions or new start-ups
(g) be effectively protected by cancellation, recalibration
and "claw-back" provisions which would insure the return
of the community's funds if the companies default on
their part of the agreement.
He further mentioned that the city and the LDF strategic plan
both mention the possibility of offering incentives to
industry.
City: The second of the Top 6 Priority Goals is
"Recognize/establish a pre-approved industrial incentive
package that builds on an economic development strategy."
LDF: Under the Industrial Attraction section of he work plan
is "Advantage/Incentive Package"-to be competitive. Los
Laredos's must have a well-defined package which covers
primary site selection factors such as location, workforce,
utilities, taxes, transportation, financing, industrial
sites, quality of life, etc. and lists (a) the advantages
Laredo already has and (b) the incentives Laredo is willing
to offer, or at least negotiate on a case-by-case basis, to
be competitive with other communities.
They are suggesting that there be a negotiating team
responsible for monitoring the businesses. That the team
consists of two representatives of the city, two from the
county, the LDF staff person, a representative of the Job
Training Partnership Act, the Texas Work Force Commission and
any private sector people involved with that project or doing
the financing or any consultants they have. Assuming the
school districts come in, then representatives from them
also. They are suggesting that they be the negotiating team
to sit down with the company, negotiate the deal and report
back and monitor it as it goes along.
The incentives that they recommend are as follows:
1) that the incentives overall be performance based, they
must be offered to local companies, they must not unfairly
compete with local companies. They must be negotiated
quickly, they must be contractual, must have claw-back
provisions. They are recommending that the City and the
County establish zones. They aecommcommending that the City
establish two enterprise zones and that the County do either
a re-investment zone or an empowerment zone and a geographic
area. They would like this zones are as follows:
That the city set up one Enterprise Zone downtown, which
simply covers downtown and the Historic Districts.
Enterprise zones can only be 10 miles or at the most 20
miles.
The other zone within the city limits, they are suggesting
the second zone cover all of M-1, M-2, B-2 and B-3.
Outside the city limits, they are recommending that the
County Commissioners set up a rural empowerment zone or a
re-investment zone to cover the colonias, Mirando City,
Bruni, Oilton and Aguilares, they county could in fact
include Zapata and other areas outside the county because
those areas can be multi-county.
On tax abatement, he said the city has a tax abatement
program for the Historic District and the County has sort of
a volunteer program, has considered one from time to time,
but hasn't taken any action so far. They are recommending
that council consider the tax abatement policy based on this
formula:
(1) To abate 1/4 for a five year period maximum.
(2) The second tier would be from 100-150 jobs plus a $2.5
million to a $5 million investment, the city would rebate
50% of its taxes about $6,750.00.
(3) From 150-200 jobs plus an investment of $5 million to
$10 million they are suggesting a 75% abatement and then
over 200 jobs and over a $10 million investment they are
recommending a 100% rebate for five years.
On equipment, the status of the project at the end of five
years, if possible whether they will participate in the JTPA
program, whether they are hiring people, percentage of hiring
local workers, etc. They are suggesting that they have a
check list, and at the end of the process make a report.
They are also suggesting the private sector make commitments
as well, there are people in the private sector that are
willing to do things. They are suggesting that the rest of
the private sector come up with a package.
He delivered a lengthy document to the City Manager and asked
council consideration on it and stated that after it has
been discussed at length they can come back.
Mr. Pena stated there are many cities that have incentives to
this type and what has been discovered is that there are not
very many businesses taking advantage of these programs. He
said they feel comfort wieh t e substanceaof wha whas
Lbe nbdon, a , and d rlcmmendmin.
x Cass thinthhat the city'ityal inltin of off rine iax
tax
a te ents shoudoul hbe hgvanv ry lo ax rhxr
He stetet the tax issui sse hs going to require a lot of study
reseresearch in depth to see if it is really in the interest
of this community. He feels they should keep focus on one
goal and that goal is to reduce the local tax rate which is
how we can attract businesses here.
Jerry Scwebel stated that the presentation that Mr. Leach has
made is to see what this city feels and thinks of economic
development. The message that council will send to
the private sector and the outsiders of Laredo is that we are
looking at sitting down and talking to you and looking at
certain incentives to allow them to come in and create jobs
in the community. He feels that is what the message is.
This process of the incentive is part of the process of the
development of the strategic plan, it has come out of the
workshop and out of dialogue and debate as to what they can
propose, and LDF has taken the leadership role and said, "let
us go for it and prepare something for your consideration",
they have done it, and at this point presented to the
Business Council (the City Manager) and there seems to be
great support for it so this evening the message that they
send by looking at and reviewing this if they support it will
go a long way in the message that they send to the private
sector. The issue is not "jobs" but "good jobs" for this
community.
Mr. Eloy Cantu who has worked with LDF in trying to
attract industry stated he is not a member of the board, but
he visits and goes with them out of town stated this is a
complicated issue, but he would like the City Council support
LDF and if it requires another workshop then lets do it. He
concluded by saying that the message the City Council sends
would show a business friendly attitude to people
outside and inside our community.
Mr. Pena asked if council wishes to acknowledge this report
and direct City Manager to proceed in its development, then
they need a motion.
Cm. Valdez stated he just wants recommendation to continue
exploring this.
Cm. Bruni asked if staff can recommend something on this
particular report, what it sees beneficial and what they see
a problem with.
Motion to instruct that staff to continue to explore the idea
of the tax abatements, bring it back with a report and
recommendation.
Moved : Cm. Valdez
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
46. Status reports regarding the implementation of the City of
Laredo FAR PART 150 Airport Noise Comparability Program and
installation of the Terminal Automated Radar Display
Information System (TARDIS).
Jose L. Flores, Airport Director, reported that in March when
they traveled to Washington and met with FAA officials they
indicated in a very positive manner that Laredo would soon be
getting its first grant to start the implementation of the
noise program. Since then, they have updated the application
to FAA for federal funds and requested comments from the
Texas Historical Commission, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and
the Texas Parks and Wildlife which are the review agencies
that review projects of this sort for environmental impacts.
They are optimistic that soon they will be receiving funding
from FAA. He knows that they have started releasing grants
to some airports and he knows we are in line, but he cannot
say specifically the date, but every indication from FAA
indicates it will be soon.
In reference to the TARDIS System, he said they have received
a proposal from FAA for cost reimbursement for the people in
Kansas City to Laredo and install our TARDIS System. He said
they have had all the equipment for a long time and their
proposal calls for approximately $8,400.00 in reimbursement
for travel. They believe that is excessive and they are
presently negotiating with them to lower the cost. The
TARDIS is still not operational, it will be operational as
soon as FAA can come down and install the system.
Cm. Bruni stated they have been at this for a year and a
half. He said this system would greatly safeguard the skies
in the City of Laredo and he does not think $8,400 is worth
having an air accident. He thinks they should just pay FAA
and reimburse them what they think the city owes them.
Motion to instruct staff to meet with FAA and approve the
$8,400 expenditure and have them here at the earliest
available date.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
47. Discussion and possible action on request to reconsider the
site of 51 acres of highway frontage purchased by the City
of Laredo for Fire Training Facility at this location.
Florencio Pena, City Manager, stated he received the report
from Mejia Engineer dated April 3rd. He identifies various
concerns regarding this particular site. One of the areas
of concern is the topography. This will be located where
the landfill is located, and because of the topography they
are going to have to divide the fire training facility into
three areas and that may not be an efficient operation for a
training facility. The Fire Chief has also had several
concerns regarding the development of some residential areas
in that vicinity and the fact that it is at Highway 359
which would be a distraction for people travelling that
highway. They are asking City Council to abandon the idea
of building a facility there so that they can proceed to
prepare a request for proposals to begin looking at another
site. He said that involves reimbursing the fire training
facility bond fund, approximately $625,000.00 which was used
to buy these 50 acres. As of yet, they have not figured how
to go about doing that, they might be able to amortized it
over some years, but they will come back to council on that.
The most critical thing is to begin identifying proposals to
seek alternative sites, they have funds available to build
that, they have borrowed the funds, they just need to move
the project along.
Cm. Casso stated they all agreed that the location is not
viable, how much time is left before they need to build that
fire training facility because those bonds were sold in
1994? Has time run out yet?
Conrado Hein, Finance Director, answered no, the only
problem is if we don't build something and we start earning
interest on those dollars in excess of what we are paying
the bond holders we have to rebate it to the government. He
said it is in our best interest to build. In terms of the
reimbursement, they talked to the bond counsel and they
do not have to reimburse for capital appreciation, they
don't have to pay interest and it can be done on an
installment basis.
Cm. Casso asked that council be informed how this will be
done as soon as possible.
Mr. Pena answered they will be informed, but in the meantime
he encouraged council to allow them to proceed to prepare
proposals and begin looking for another site.
Motion to allow staff to proceed to prepare proposals and
begin looking for another site.
Moved : Cm. Casso
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Cm. Guerra wants staff to look at the old detention center
as a possible alternative use for the training facility.
48. Presentation by Rust Engineering on the status of the
landfill vertical expansion permit and a contingency plan to
acquire land for future landfill needs.
Mr. Bryand Dodley, Senior Project Engineer, presented
figures that showed the design drawing in its current stage.
He showed photos of the landfill, and stated they are about
a year into the design process and are three weeks away of
submitting a final product to the city for their last review
prior to it going to TNRCC as a permit amendment to the
current landfill.
He explained that the current landfill is about halfway
developed, it has been operating since 1988, the original
design was developed when it was very inexpensive to operate
a landfill, new environmental regulations came into place in
1993 and now it is very expensive to line, put final covers,
and do all the groundwater, and monitoring on any landfill
site that is constructed. The economics have gone through
the roof and into the sky on operating a landfill, but it is
something that every existing project, and every new project
has to put up with.
The original design was for very low landfill, not for very
much depth of waste. They are looking at about four years
of life left with the original design at the current
landfill.
He quoted, that the city having to develop this land in its
entirety, under its current design, or a new expanded design
that goes up higher, the economics, and why he thinks
council took the decision to do a vertical expansion over a
year ago, was that to build out the additional 70 acres of
the site over the next four years which is going to cost
probably $9 million just in liners and in the final cover
that goes on the buried waste. This $9 million that goes
into developing landfill, can give the city capacity for
four years with its current design or for 20 years with an
expanded design.
What they are looking at is to go up higher, but they will
only go up higher over the same area, about 150 acres that
was originally designed for the landfill, they are going to
go deeper (about 10' feet deeper) with the landfill as well.
Significantly, this site for the landfill is an ideal site.
It has good highway access, it is set back from the highway
at least 700 feet that helps the city provide screening and
buffering from view, the highway site of the landfill on the
south is higher then to the north near the railroads, so
that the site drops about 70 ft. elevation as you move
towards the railroad. The nearby land is industrial, it is
located amongst rolling hill, and quite a bit of topographic
change and elevations, the land routinely moves up and down
up to 100 feet in elevation as you go south of the highway
to the north of the landfill near the railroad track.
He added they are 95% complete with the project, they have a
team of 14 designers and landfill specialists working on the
job He added that by April 30th Rust will present design
plans and documents to the Public Works Department of
information that will be submitted to the state. The city
in a matter of a week or two will review on this report, do
final reproduction, final modifications and in May it will
go to the state as permit amendment application. It is
anticipated that the state will go through a six month
process of technical review to make sure all the components
are there, they will review the engineering and make sure
all the requirements are adhered to. This is a site that
posses no major technical risks, all the risks of
groundwater contamination is very remote, and once they go
through this technical review process by the state staff,
then there will be an opportunity for any impacted
individuals in the area to request for public hearing which
should take approximately two months, if there is a permit
hearing requested they will go into that process, it will be
a formal administrative hearing where he and his staff will
present all technical aspects of this for the hearing
examiner and then it will go to the Texas Natural Resource
Commission for their action. This process is about 8-12
month process beginning in May.
Mr. Pena said this concludes the general status, and the
only part that remains here is the estimate assuming there
is a public hearing and in the worst case scenario and
having a public hearing requested or what kind of a time
frame they would be looking at getting a vertical expansion
permit or 15th months from today.
Cm. Casso questioned the engineer on the contamination
issue and wanted an update status as to where we are on
this.
Mr. Dodley stated the landfill has followed the state
procedures on setting up and getting approval for a
groundwater monitoring system. They are on target, most of
the wells have been installed and the state has not required
sampling to this date. They are waiting for final approval
from the state of the construction of the wells, once they
do that they expect the city to begin to do monitoring.
They will begin on four times a year and then cut to twice a
year and they establish what the backgrounds levels are.
The city has followed the correct procedures in timing for
installing monitoring wells.
Mr. Pena questioned as to the acceptability of using
vertical expansion permits across the State of Texas from a
technical stand point.
Mr. Dodley stated that in reference to the practice using
vertically expansion permits overall all portions of the
landfill is routine. The state sees it and has approved it
on a regular basis. He has a list of 14 sites that state
has provided and he has been involved in three sites. The
state has had some discussions on its policy with some of
policy committees, their actions thus far have been to
continue to approve expansions. He sees no conflict with
state policy in pursing this kind of expansion that is done
every time from a geology stand point. He said there are
technics that have been used, he does not anticipate the
needing of any of those in this site, but in the event there
is something that might need to be done, there are available
technics.
Joe Guerra, Public Works Director, stated they contracted
with Dr. Farias' Group and they do not know how much all the
information received is going to cost the City, except
$20.00 per ton. If you figure out the tonnage that is taken
into the landfill (city's own trash/solid waste), at $20 per
ton it will cost $3.8 million per year, this are the last
figures, by the year 2001 if they do acquire a landfill and
permit, it could be more than $4 million a year. We will
close the landfill, we'll be out of the landfill business
totally. We take in $2.3 million of revenues right now
which help run the landfill, what is going to happen is that
the city owned trash, (city the is going to pay for its own
trash) which is free right now. We are doing the landfill
for this amount of money, and the City of Laredo is not
paying a penny to the landfill on its own trash, but if you
close the landfill and go out and contract with Dr. Farias
or someone else it will cost you $4 million for the next 20
years which will be about $80-$100 million in 20 years plus
an option of 20 more. What this means is that we are going
to loose revenues, they will have to raise taxes (about 7
1/2 cents) to pay for the $4 million they are paying someone
else or increase residence fees $8 per resident, then raise
the sewer rate $2.25 to make up for the sludge of the sewer
department which is going free right now to the landfill.
Mayor Flores questioned why are we going to spend the money
to buy landfill land in another area, in case we don't get
the permit, why buy it now.
Mr. Guerra explained that three years ago he put capital
improvement projects ($1 million to acquire land) because
they knew they were getting closer to the end. In case we
do get the vertical expansion permit, we are going to be in
business the next 15-20 years. We now have $1 million
earmarked to acquire land, get a permit for less than a
million and it will be inactive. That is money in the bank,
and a landfill with a permit for the future of the city.
He said we have to look 20 years down the road.
Cm. Casso stated he is not against it, he is just looking at
the timeline, is it better that we wait 9 months after we
get the permit approval before we go in there and invest
money ($1 million for 100 acres) and besides 100 acres is
ridiculous and is unacceptable.
In reference to the issue of contracting, he does not think
that this council has yet made a decision at all to
privatize the landfill based on the information given. The
other CES would have to defuit the figures provided and it
has to be done intellectually before they even begin to
contract with these individuals. What was discussed at one
time was the letter of intent, and it was his understanding
that it would marry us to these individuals and we don't
want to lose our sobriety. We want to be able to retain our
freedom and our control, so we don't want to be married to
anybody. He said they other thing that comes into light is
the letter that Southern Sanitation wrote on March 30th
which reads as follows:
"Dear Madam Mayor:
After listening to City Council's reaction to the
presentation made by the company proposing the regional
landfill Southern Sanitation is concerned that its landfill
options may be in jeopardy. Southern Sanitation has several
years of exploring landfill possibilities and has not gone
beyond the planning stages because it was the opinion of all
involved that it would not be wise for the city to lose
control of its disposal site. In view of these facts, we
are requesting that if the city is to give the regional
landfill a non-binding letter of intent, that it consider
giving Southern Sanitation the same, our letter would not be
used for any financing requirements nor would it obligate
the city in any way, but merely be used as a negotiating
tool."
Cm. Casso expressed that he does not like the end part, that
last words bother him "used as a negotiating tool" because
why should we sign a letter so that they can use it as a
negotiating tool with us, we are tieing our own hands, and
it makes no sense whatsoever. If you are going to negotiate
you are not goto gto give the other side any type of
advantage with a letter that we are going to sign, it makes
no sense whatsoever. He said it is unwise to sign any
document and it best to continue as we are until the other
side proves to us that it is a lot cheaper to privatize, and
he has not seen that yet in the last six months that they
have been patching this issue back and forth.
Dr. Farias stated council was told that he was looking for a
contract, the letter is not a contract. There were remarks
from the Public Works Director, he must have some vision
into the future, where he is already anticipating something
that has not even been negotiating. He expressed that all
he came to the council for, was for them to consider an
alternative. He said it is in the best interest of the city
to explore alternatives. He said basically what they wanted
was a document that serves the city's purpose and that would
serve their purpose. He asked that they reject the city
attorney's letter, and that they let them work together in
something that will serve the project.
Cm. Bruni stated that it would not hurt for this council to
instruct staff to explore alternatives, if it is not going
to cost the ratepayer/taxpayer any money. He quoted, "I
think it would be who of this council, for staff to seat
down with Mr. Farias' attorney, Mr. Farias and explore
alternatives." It does not mean we are going to do
anything, but he is just asking that we seat down with him
and as public servants he has the right to request that. If
we don't get our vertical permit and its going to take us
four years to get the other land and the permit from TNRCC,
it doesn't hurt to have an alternative.
Cm. Casso agrees with Cm. Bruni in reference to exploring
other alternatives, however they have to explore the
methods, however he feels the letter of intent is
unnecessary. It is not necessary to sign anything, the only
thing they need to do is instruct staff to seat down and
discuss the issue to find out if "this is true or not, is it
cheaper to go this way or is it better to retain control."
Mr. Jaime Flores, City Attorney, stated he spoke with Mr.
Farias last week as well as with Mr. Parker his partner in
Boston, and discussed the letter of intent as proposed. His
partner in Boston asked, "how can we work on that letter in
order to be something that perhaps council could work with."
He told him that they were working with that, and that he
would write a letter and he explained specifically that
letter would say very clearly, that this is not a letter of
intent, and that is what the letter says, but that in no way
they meant to say that we are not working. He told him he
would fax the letter to him, as soon as council saw it, and
the City Manager so instructed.
Motion to instruct staff to seat down with the developer,
Mr. Farias and his attorney to discuss alternatives and iron
it out and come back with the real numbers.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Casso
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
IX. COMMUNICATIONS
a. Recognizing City of Laredo employees for their participation
and contribution to the 1997-1998 United Way of Laredo
Campaign.
b. Cm. Guerra spoke of a concern he had on a traffic issue. He
said several months back he spoke of a possible installation
of a traffic control device at the intersection of Encino and
Mann Road and wants a brief update on this issue.
Roberto Murillo, Traffic Engineer, stated they finished the
study at both locations, and the other street west of it.
They will have a report ready in a week or so. They are
trying to combine two or three different studies and provide
all of them to council in a week or two.
c. Cw. Moreno stated she had a call from residents in McClelland
and Lyon about traffic accidents occurring and she wants staff
to check and see if there are any obstructions that are
blocking the view from the stop signs. She wants a report as
to how many accidents have occurred at that intersection.
Mr. Murillo replied that they have not received any calls, but
that they will look in it.
d. Cm. Casso wanted to know how council feels about a document
they received under memorandums by the City Manager. It has
to do with the visit that the Utilities Department wants to
make regarding the privatization of the water department. He
feels the trip should be postponed, because there are members
of City Council that want to take that trip that will no
longer be in the City Council in three weeks. He thinks it
will be a waste of taxpayers money. If people are making that
trip they have to come back and report and share the
information with council and follow it through. He feels the
trip should be postponed, there is a trip to Puerto Rico, New
Orleans, Oklahoma City and Indianapolis and he feels that it
should be postponed until the new council gets elected, then
they can see what they want to do.
X. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION
49. Requests by Mayor and City Councilmembers for discussion and
presentation.
A. Requests by Councilmember Louis H. Bruni
1. Discussion and possible action on several citizen complaints
in the Eastwood Estates Subdivision: El Metro service, Speed
Hump Pilot Project, Initiation of the POPS program (Property
Oriented Police Services), and traffic signs at 3212 Lyon.
Cm. Bruni said what they are asking is as follows:
On metro service, what they would like there is a bus bench
and a shelter on the street that intersects with Loop 20.
Cm. Bruni asked if that can be done it will be greatly
appreciated by the residents of the Eastwood Estates.
They would also like to be included in the Speed Hump
Pilot Program at Lyon Street, maybe the 3000 and 3100 of
Lyon.
Cm. Bruni wants a staff report as to where it would be
appropriate for that particular speed hump.
In reference to the initiation of the POPS program at
Heritage Park. Cm. Bruni stated the program was a great
success and thanked the Chief of Police and the Police
Department because they did a great job and should be
recognized for that. He said the news media shared a
lot of information regarding this program that many
people have called him that they want the same program
in their subdivisions.
Gilbert Segovia, Transit Director, questioned the first
issue, he asked if he is speaking of the intersection on
Spur 400 and if this is the area, he will take a look at
that area and report back to council.
Cm. Bruni stated that the last issue is a traffic signal
at the end of the 3200 block of Lyon. The residents are
asking for a sign there that states approaching dead
end, caution or a sign that states something similar.
He wants a memorandum in reference to this.
2. Status report on the TRAK System (Technology to Recover
Abducted Kids) with possible action.
Fructoso San Miguel of the Police Department explained that
TRAK System is a computer system that branches out agencies
and organizations and quickly disseminates information with
clear color photos that have been used with FBI and Secret
Service, with Zapata and Houston research purposes. He said
that fortunately they have not had any abducted children in
Laredo and it is fortunate that the TRAK System has not been
used for that purpose.
3. Status report on the DTN Weather Modification System.
Cm. Bruni stated that the correct wording for this system is
DTN Weather Monitoring System.
Assistant Fire Chief Leopoldo Roman stated they have a
brochure that they got from police about the DTN Weather
Center. They found out that KLDO TV station has the system
and in talking to them they found out that they can get any
information they want at any time from them.
Cm. Bruni stated that the idea he had was for them to
expedite the project and spend the money to get it on line.
That it be at the fire station so they can monitor it.
Second, that when we get a severe weather signal coming in
that it can be put in our Public Access Channel (PAC) so that
people watching TV can see this also. He added that council
approved this expenditure and now you are saying that KLDO
has it, also other places have it, which is fine, but it is
limited to who has access. His idea was that 9-1-1 have it
so they can see the weather systems signals coming in and see
when something severe is coming to be put in the Public
Access Channel to inform the public and make them aware.
Mr. Pena stated he will look into the issue and report to
council.
4. Discussion and possible action on the illegal parking
occurring at the 2200 Block of Elm.
Luis Landin, Bridge and Traffic Director, stated they cannot
prohibit vehicles from parking on a public right-of-way,
however the only thing they can do in the 2200 and 2300 Block
of Elm is put "Prohibit Parking" in those two blocks and
notify the owners of those residences that they have to use
their driveways, because if they put prohibited parking in
that area nobody can park there and most of the parked cars
are from students.
Motion that staff approach the resident owners and if there
is opposition that they report to City Council through a
memorandum and if there is no opposition, that they go ahead
and put the prohibited parking signs.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Valdez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
B. Requests by Councilmember Alfonso Casso, Jr.
1. Discussion and possible action regarding the creation of a
Tree Board with possible appointees.
Cm. Casso provided the following names for possible
appointments to the Tree Board USA:
Michael Yoeder, Richard Gonzalez, Steve Coussoulis, Richard
Gentry, Danita Benavides, Linda Cantu, Dr. Jim Earhart, Anne
Bearden, Jon Radenaum, Manuel Jordan, Blas Martinez, Jr.,
Edie Landeck, Elizabeth Gil, and Ana Poole.
Motion to approve the creation of the Tree Board USA with
authorization to name those persons named by Cm. Casso.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2. Discussion and possible action regarding the Laredo Emergency
Planning Committee.
Cm. Casso stated someone who works at the hospital mentioned
to him that the committee has not met in sometime. He wants
to know what the city is doing in this regard, if they are
meeting, and if they have some type of emergency plan in case
something happens.
Julio Ramon, of the Fire Department, stated they have a EOC
Room (Emergency Operations Center), the Fire Chief is the
head of the operations, there are local citizens throughout
the city that are members of that board. He said he does not
know when they meet or how, but whenever an emergency
happens, the EOC is opened, they have radios and telephones
for PD, DPS, and all the city departments and they operate
out of that room.
Cm. Casso wants to know when they are going to meet because
they are supposed to have some type of a continuance plan,
because there is a law on this where they are supposed to
meet and have continuancy plan.
Mr. Ramon stated he will find out and will provide him a date
as to when the meeting will be held.
3. Discussion and possible action regarding the creation of a
water park overlooking the Rio Grande with possible financing
with proposed sales tax.
Cm. Casso wants to remind council that it will be a hard sale
with the public and he feels it is not going to pass. He
said he does not know if they have been working on proposed
projects or if they are not ready to present them to council,
but this is one issue that they might want to look at. The
reason he put this issue on the agenda is because they need
to look at some type of a master plan of what the city is
going to do that will address three issue that he sees of
importance such as environment, job creation, and tourist
attraction. What is it that the city wants to do. His idea
is perhaps if they can have convention center and next to it
a lot of parks with baseball fields, soccer fields and
probably a water park. He thinks that they should consider
doing something for the children in the community and a water
park would be a good idea. Based on the proposal presented
last time, he feels this will not pass, the jet service will
not pass alone. He would like to see something grand such as
a 200 acre park overlooking the river with baseball fields,
soccer fields, water parks, and maybe a convention center.
Cm. Perez stated some people came down from a water park who
were looking for information or analysis and who had interest
on this. He asked the City Manager to follow up what these
people were looking for and to bring back a report.
Mr. Pena reported that there was a group and the person that
was with them told him that they were not interested in
building it themselves, but would lend their expertise to
help in the planning and marketing, but they were not interested in doing it themselves. He does not believe that
between now and August they can develop a specific project to
deal with the water park because it is not enough time to
negotiate a contract with that kind of an investment.
C. Requests by Councilmember Eliseo Valdez Jr.
1. Discussion and possible action on the city-wide graffiti
problem.
Cm. Valdez stated this is a national problem. He received a
call from a new business setting up in town who were
discouraged about what they have seen. The were trying to
set up a business and were already experiencing graffiti.
He said kids were defacing private and public property and he
feels they need to take a tougher stance. He expressed that
Code Enforcement and the Police Department are doing a good
job trying to get rid of the graffiti, but we need to take
tougher stance, maybe with stiffer fines, or banning the sale
of spray paints to minors. They need to come up with a plan
and do something. He suggested maybe putting PSA reports and
getting the public involved in reporting these things as they
are happening.
Note: At this time he discussed his next item.
Jaime Flores, City Attorney, stated we do have the
ordinances and state law on the books that we can enforce
criminal mischief, reckless damage, criminal trespass and
nuisance ordinance, curfew ordinance and different laws that
lead to prosecution and stiffer fines. In regards to talking
about taking action against parents, there is a provision in
regards to curfew that lead back to parents. On criminal
mischief depending on the amount of damage caused, there is
Class A, B, or C misdemeanors, as well as trespass so there
are very good laws in the books that can be enforced, it is a
matter of addressing the matter.
2. Discussion and possible action on illegal dumping.
Note: This item was tied with item C.1.
Cm. Valdez spoke of vacant lots in the city where there is
illegal dumping. He stated there are people out there that
see these things going on and asked that we encourage them to
get involved and report these things. He said that these
reports need to be followed up and we need to do something
about it. We need to adopt ordinances and stiffer fines.
D. Requests by Councilmember Joe A. Guerra
1. Presentation by Rene Cervantes on health care benefit abuse
by:
a) Hospitals
b) Home Health Services
c) PHP (Partial Hospital Programs)
d) Private pay and nursing home facilities
Mr. Cervantes stated he had experienced a situation with his
mother who was rendered health services and billed for
$60,000.00 in four months and thinks this is a crime. They
we not utilizing the services to give her the proper skilled
nursing, they were promising her things that did not pertain
to health care. He asked that City Council start a
committee going, because we need to have a voice for our
senior citizens. It is important that senior citizens who
worked all their lives, who paid their taxes and dues, now
have what they deserve, good health care when they are sick.
Cw. Montalvo stated the City doesn't have anything to do with
medicare/medicaid, with home health or with any other agency.
Mr. Cervantes stated she is right, but the thing is the abuse
of senior citizens and they need a voice and that is why they
elected the City Council and the Mayor for someone to enforce
the laws. He suggested that City Council form a committee to
police all the senior citizens that need the help. He wants
someone to take care of them either by passing the complaints
to Austin and Dallas to the people who are paying for the
services that are not rendered.
Mayor Flores stated that this issue will be taken under
advisement and will follow it up with him.
2. Presentation by Esequiel Maldonado regarding City of Laredo
master plumbers.
Cm. Guerra tabled the item, due to Mr. Maldonado being
absent.
3. Discussion and possible action on the proposed South Texas
Regional Waste Management Project/Facility and a declaration
of continued interest for the possible participation by the
City of Laredo.
Mr. Hector Farias on behalf of the Texas Mexican Border
International Trade Association addressed the issue and
stated it has to do with a meeting where the Mayor and
Representatives were before the Land Surface Transportation
Board met in Washington having to do with the Union Pacific
Embargo. He said they had representation at this meeting and
the bottom line is that they wanted three things to happen
which did not happen.
(1) That the embargo be ended immediately.
(2) That the rail lines be extended to all Union Pacific
competitors.
(3) That the Southern Pacific/Union Pacific merger be done
away with.
He said that the Land Surface Transportation Board is not
going to do anything. It is a very political issue and he
begged City Council to get the private/public sector together
to press our representatives at the highest levels.
At this time Mayor Flores told Mr. Farias that they are
continuing to talk to them in that respect, and asked that he
address this item presented.
In reference to the issue, he explained what has transpired
with a letter he had submitted. He said that he would like
to proceed with this letter. He explained that on the last
meeting the item was posted, shortly after that several
Councilmen instructed the City Attorney to meet with them and
their attorneys to find a Declaration of Intent or a letter
that would serve both purposes and that did not happen. It
was their understanding that they would have the opportunity
to work with the City Attorney to modify the Declaration of
Intent presented at the meeting, so that the wording and the
resulting document would address the concerns and reflect the
wishes of the City Council and met the needs of the project.
Despite their efforts to establish dialogue with the City
Attorney on this matter they have been exclu rh hatever
ess ha occurred h his ans an the City Maager's
h ff c . Thir onlyinformatimatis hromfaora d lettee
t provire( do tt m ymabmeabeembertoe City Council. He said
aid
that letter was nx tot tvehbve eespnte e oo clclhout
the riput.put.ey syh hisph f et on on be affsoafft
@ o sco sce the proe t. ct. He stated council has the letter
drafted by the City Attorney, and stated he has exceptions to
statements in the letter which he read and pointed that
ironically, the detailed information that the letter claims
is lacking and really concerns the uncertainties associated
with the current and future operation of the city's landfill,
and with its environmental impacts, and economic
consequences for example the ground monitoring well has yet
to be sampled and to determine the level of contamination
from the landfill. These results will affect TNRCC's
evaluation of the city's application to expand the landfill.
This city has no application before TNRCC at this time, nor
any groundwater monitoring. The question is what is the
timeline that they can walk the City Council for the
application for the vertical expansion and what is being done
about the groundwater monitoring. Now if there is
contamination found, where does the city go from there?
He also addressed page 2 of the draft letter, where it states
"it is not a declaration of intent to enter into
negotiations, it is only an expression of continued interest
in your proposal". He continued quoting the letter and said
that somehow the project and the city needs to establish a
similar level of seriousness regarding the city's position in
the project. The aggressive offered made by the project
cannot stay on the table indefinitely and the project will
not continue to invest its money and effort to help Laredo if
the City has decided on a business as usual approach in which
it proceeds despite the risks to depend upon expansion of its
current land facility to meet its ever growing needs for
wastewater capacity.
He concluded by saying that the draft letter provided to them
appears to be an implicit rejection of their proposal to the
City of Laredo and if that is the case they are baffled by
their apparent lack of appreciation for the merits of the
project and for the benefits it will accrue to the city as a
partner and not just a customer of this project. He added if
this is not the case, then hopefully the City Council will
reject the draft letter and initiate a collaborate process
where the city and the project work together to produce a
cleaner and simple statement of intent.
Cm. Guerra stated his three biggest concerns are the permit
process for the vertical expansion of the landfill, the
contamination issue and mostly to have an alternative site in
case they run out of space and/or if they do not get the
permit for the vertical expansion. He wants to hear from the
engineering firm of Rust Engineering on this issue.
Motion to move item #48 at this time in order to continue
with the presentation.
Moved : Cm. Guerra
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
4. Status report on the construction of the sidewalks leading to
Clark Elementary School, with possible action.
Cm. Guerra stated he had received an update from staff on the
issue.
XI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
50. Public hearing providing interested persons an opportunity to
comment on the proposed amendment of the City of Laredo's
1995 Consolidated Plan to reflect changes in the strategic
portion of the Plan pertaining to housing and non-housing
initiatives and funding portions for the period October 1,
1995 through September 30, 1999.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Cindy Collazo, Community Development Director, made the
presentation before City Council.
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce the
ordinance.
Moved : Cw. Montalvo
Second: Cm. Valdez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
51. Public hearing amending Chapter 30, Taxation, Article II,
Hotel Occupancy Tax, Section 30-17; levy; exceptions,
amending subsections (b) and (c), and adding subsections (d)
and (e) to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Laredo.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending Chapter 30, Taxation, Article II, Hotel Occupancy
Tax, Section 30-17; levy; exceptions, amending subsections
(b) and (c), and adding subsections (d) and (e) to the Code
of Ordinances of the City of Laredo.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cw. Montalvo
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce the
ordinance.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
52. Public hearing amending the City of Laredo FY 1997-1998
Annual Budget in the amount of $90,000.00, for a donation by
the Friends of the Library, Laredo, Texas, providing for
effective date.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the City of Laredo FY 1997-1998 Annual Budget in the
amount of $90,000.00, for a donation by the Friends of the
Library, Laredo, Texas, providing for effective date.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce the
ordinance.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
53. Public hearing establishing a fifteen (15% penalty on
delinquent Miscellaneous Receivables Accounts that are past
due for more than 180 days in order to defray the cost of
collection; and providing for the referral of such past due
accounts to the contracted delinquent tax attorney; and
providing for the notification, and an effective date.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Establishing a fifteen percent (15%) penalty on delinquent
Miscellaneous Receivables Accounts that are past due for more
than 180 days in order to defray the cost of collection; and
providing for the referral of such past due accounts to the
contracted delinquent tax attorney; and providing for the
notification, and an effective date.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to table.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
54. Public hearing amending the City of Laredo's 1998 budget in
the amount of $356,086.00, for funding of operating expenses
and personnel for an organized Multi-Agency Financial
Disruption Task Force for the period of January 1, 1998
through December 31, 1998.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the City of Laredo's 1998 budget in the amount of
$356,086.00, for funding of operating expenses and personnel
for an organized Multi-Agency Financial Disruption Task Force
for the period of January 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Casso
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: Cm. Bruni
55. Public hearing amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the
City of Laredo by rezoning Lots 1 and 2, Block 1537, Eastern
Division, located on the northeast corner of the intersection
of Ash St., and Texas Ave., from M-1 (Light Manufacturing
District) to R-1 (Single Family Residential District. The
Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of this
zone change.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by
rezoning Lots 1 and 2, Block 1537, Eastern Division, located
on the northeast corner of the intersection of Ash St., and
Texas Ave., from M-1 (Light Manufacturing District) to R-1
(Single Family Residential District).
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Casso
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: Cm. Bruni
56. Public hearing amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 Annual
Budget in the amount of $5,000.00, and authorizing the City
Manager to enter into an agreement with the Office of the
Comptroller for the reimbursement of $5,000.00, for funding a
Tobacco Compliance program. This money will be used to pay
overtime wages for Laredo Police Crime Prevention officers
involved in this operation. This will be the first year the
City has entered into this agreement and is at no cost to the
City.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 Annual Budget in the
amount of $5,000.00, and authorizing the City Manager to
enter into an agreement with the Office of the Comptroller
for the reimbursement of $5,000.00, for funding a Tobacco
Compliance program. This money will be used to pay overtime
wages for Laredo Police Crime Prevention officers involved in
this operation. This will be the first year the City has
entered into this agreement and is at no cost to the City.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Casso
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved : Cm. Casso
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
57. Public hearing approving an amendment to the contract with the
Texas Department of Health and Budget revision for the
Tuberculosis Prevention Control Projects of the City of Laredo
Health Department to reflect two budgets: the TB Federal
Projects for the period beginning January 1, 1998, through
December 31, 1998, in the amount of $99,950.00, and the "Los
Dos Laredos" TB Binational Project for the period beginning
January 1, 1998, through June 30, 1998, in the amount of
$46,438.00.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Approving an amendment to the contract with the Texas
Department of Health and Budget revision for the Tuberculosis
Prevention Control Projects of the City of Laredo Health
Department to reflect two budgets: the TB Federal Projects
for the period beginning January 1, 1998, through December
31, 1998, in the amount of $99,950.00, and the "Los Dos
Laredos" TB Binational Project for the period beginning
January 1, 1998, through June 30, 1998, in the amount of
$46,438.00.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce the
ordinance.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
XII. MOTION TO RECESS AND CONVENE AS THE LAREDO MASS TRANSIT BOARD
Motion to recess as City Council and convene as The Laredo Mass
Transit Board.
Moved : Cw. Moreno
Second: Cm. Valdez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
58. Amending Ordinance 95-OT-3to:h
o:
a. Delete the bus bench advertising rates included in the
introductory section and Section 1, and
b. Amend the advertising policy to add prohibitions
advertising for tobacco and alcoholic beverages and
sexually oriented businesses.
Gilbert Segovia, Transit Director, made the presentation.
Motion to table.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
59. Authorization to solicit bids for the purchase of the
following items:
a. replacement support vehicles (3 - utility vehicles,
1 - truck, 1 - midsize sedan); bids will be accepted on
conventional, bi-fuel, and dedicated CNG engines.
b. heavy duty brake drum and disk lathe
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
60. Motion to reject all proposals received in response to a
solicitation for used transit buses. The proposals received
were for 1981 and 1982 model buses with refurbished bodies.
However, the drive trains of these buses have not been
refurbished and are in unknown condition. Hence, in addition
to the minimum $175,000.00 cost, additional investment may be
necessary to replace or rebuild the engines and transmissions
before placing them into service. No funds were provided for
this purchase in the current budget.
Motion to reject all proposals.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
61. Motion to authorize the City Manager to solicit proposals for
bus bench and shelter/kiosk advertising sales and service.
This solicitation seeks a private sector contractor to
construct, place and maintain bus stop benches and shelters
in exchange for the right to sell advertising and provide a
portion of the advertising revenues to the City.
William Cane, representing El Metro drivers and maintenance,
presented financial figures on revenues that the benches
could possibly generate. His understanding from some of the
people that do this type of work or have expertise in this is
that they have been shut down sort of speak, or they have
been set aside, and he understands that when they bought the
benches from the other people who had the benches previously
they paid approximately $300 a piece. He thinks these
benches could be done in-house much cheaper than that. He
thinks this thing is underutilized. They also have a
contract with El Metro and if they are going to move from one
place to another it has to be negotiated.
Motion to table.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
62. Public hearing to defer indefinitely the implementation of
proposed Loop 20 Shuttle and South Laredo Circulator and in
lieu thereof, add one bus to the Santa Rita Route from 8:00
A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Monday to
Saturday to provide additional capacity and service
frequency.
MOTION
Public hearing to defer indefinitely the implementation of
proposed Loop 20 Shuttle and South Laredo Circulator and in
lieu thereof, add one bus to the Santa Rita Route from 8:00
A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Monday to
Saturday to provide additional capacity and service
frequency.
Motion to open to the public hearing.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
William Cane, representing El Metro drivers and maintenance,
made it clear that he had no input on the Santa Rita route
but that this is not the ideal solution. route is
exceptionally long and a lot of bus stops along Zapata Hwy.
only 3 stops and people get confused It doesn't help the
public out it is not the ideal solution my recommendation is
the same as December of 1997 with two buses serving one east
area and the other the west area.
Motion to close the public hearing and approve.
Moved : Cm. Guerra
Second: Cm. Cm. Perez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Motion to adjourn as The Mass Transit Board and convene City
Council.
Moved : Cm. Valdez
Second: Cm. Perez:
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
VIII. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
1. Request for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government
Code Section 551.071 (1) (a) (b), to discuss pending
litigation and settlement offer in cause No. 97 CVQ 00308-C3
Captain J.L. Martinez vs. The City of Laredo, in County Court
at Law No. 2, Webb County, Texas, and return to open session
for possible action thereon.
Motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to Texas
Government Code Section 551.071 (1) (a) (b), to discuss
pending litigation and settlement offer in cause No. 97 CVQ
00308-C3 Captain J.L. Martinez vs. The City of Laredo, in
County Court at Law No. 2, Webb County, Texas.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
After Executive Session Mayor Flores announced that no formal
action was taken in executive session.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Adjournment Time: 10:10 P.M.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE MINUTES CONTAINED IN PAGES 01 TO 46 ARE
TRUE, COMPLETE, AND CORRECT PROCEEDING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD
ON THE 06TH DAY OF APRIL, 1998. A CERTIFIED COPY IS ON FILE AT THE
CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
________________________
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.
CITY SECRETARY