[0:14] town, Texas will be held due the 25th day of August 2026 at 6 p.m. South Texas

[0:22] 501 West Texas 100 Texas 78578 pursuant to Texas government code section 551.127

[0:30] members of the town council may attend and participate in the video conference

[0:34] at quorum of the town council visit the president of the above meeting location

[0:37] item to be discussed meeting to order at

[0:44] the

[0:48] heavenly father we thank Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community.

[0:52] Please be with us as we make decisions that will help our community. Watch over

[0:59] those in need. Be with those who need you most. In your name we pray. Amen.

[1:04] Amen. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[1:08] United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation

[1:14] under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I

[1:20] pledge allegiance to thee Texas. One state under God, one indivisible.

[1:28] [clears throat]

[1:38] » [snorts]

[1:43] » Item two, open form. The public is allowed three minutes for person to

[1:46] address the council on any topic. There will be no discussion. I'm sorry. Roll

[1:50] call. [laughter] [clears throat]

[1:53] » Council member Gan >> here.

[1:55] » Council member Howard. Council member Parker

[1:58] » here. Council member Cornelius >> here.

[2:01] » Council member Bryant >> here.

[2:03] » Council member Hernandez >> here. Mayor Carter

[2:06] » here. Item two, the public is allowed three minutes per person to address the

[2:11] council on any topic. There'll be no discussion or formal hear agenda item

[2:16] speaker identify themselves prior to before speaking. Speaker requested the

[2:21] city secretary prior to the meeting. We have one Selena McCauley. Selena

[2:27] McCaulay, who has final responsibility and authority for authorizing,

[2:32] approving, and signing expenditures for each town fund? If that cannot be

[2:38] answered publicly tonight for a formal response, will council

[2:43] place the question on the agenda with supporting documents identifying the

[2:48] authority. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you.

[2:54] Item three, discussion and action on approval of minutes for the council

[2:59] meeting regular council meeting

[3:03] January 26, 2026. Regular council meeting August 11, 2026 and special

[3:08] council meeting August 196. [clears throat]

[3:19] [clears throat] >> I know it's okay.

[3:22] Yes. >> Yes.

[3:25] » So, I'll make a motion that we approve the council meeting minutes from January

[3:29] 26, 2026, August 11th, 2026, and August 19th, 2026.

[3:37] Second motion by council Bryant, seconded by Council Parker to approve

[3:42] the approval of the minutes of the town

[3:45] council meeting on January 26, 2026, August 11, 2026, August 19th, 2026.

[3:50] Council member,

[3:53] » no. >> Council member Howard,

[3:56] » yes. >> Council member Parker,

[3:58] » yes. >> Council member Pelius,

[4:00] » yes. >> Council member Bryant,

[4:02] » yes. >> Council member Hernandez,

[4:04] » yes. >> Mayor,

[4:06] » I have a point of order that I would like to make. I believe in the brother's

[4:10] rules of order that you're not able to say no on voting on the minutes without

[4:16] a correction that's supposed to be made. So if there's something wrong in the

[4:21] minutes that you disagree with, you need to correct [laughter] it.

[4:26] » I wasn't here in January, so [clears throat] I wouldn't know.

[4:31] » So then just noting you guys made a motion

[4:36] to get them all together.

[4:40] » Yes.

[4:46] Item four is best possible action on selection of a bank depository proposal.

[4:51] Mayor members of council uh we uh so this is the RP

[4:58] services uh we send we publicized it we send it to various banking institutions

[5:04] in the area. uh we have [clears throat] received two proposals and what we found

[5:10] is that uh in a way looks like right now we're comparing apples and oranges

[5:15] instead of apples so forth uh we really would like to meet with the

[5:20] [clears throat] two banks uh and clarify their also and then we would be able to

[5:27] make a an informed decision as to which would recommend uh to the council. But

[5:32] right now we we just need more information or clarification

[5:37] from the two institutions. So therefor you have any questions we recommend the

[5:43] items.

[5:52] If there's no motion made just go on to next

[5:58] two ladies. >> Okay. So we'll be calling

[6:06] [clears throat] >> item five discussion possible action on

[6:09] selection of an auditor to conduct the city's annual audit for fiscal year

[6:12] audit October 1st 2025 through September 30th 2026 again uh we solicit this audit

[6:20] proposals for conducting the audit for the current fiscal year and uh we send

[6:26] it to those I promise send it to various auditing firms

[6:30] Uh in this case, we only received one proposal uh from Cosmos and Associates.

[6:36] Uh [clears throat] they've been doing the audit for quite some time. Uh

[6:40] there's I mean they're very very well qualified. Uh it's up to the council if

[6:45] you want to just consider one proposal or or if you want us to solicit

[6:49] additional ones. Although I don't know if we will I mean we we made it pretty

[6:55] and that's the only one we received. You sent it to all the big firms in the

[6:59] valley. [clears throat] >> Yes, we about two three in the valley.

[7:03] Yes. All the big firms in the valley. [clears throat]

[7:11] » Want to make sure that you didn't send it to all the big

[7:14] [snorts] advertise.

[7:16] » Yeah, exactly. So, and if they didn't pick up on it, it

[7:20] is what it is. So,

[7:32] I'll make a motion that we um select um Costos, sorry, Costos and Associates

[7:41] to conduct the city's annual audit for fiscal year October 1st, 2025 to

[7:45] September 30th, 2026. [clears throat]

[7:50] Motion by council second by council Hernandez to accept classes and

[7:54] associates as a group October 1225 through September 30 2026.

[8:01] » Yes. >> Council member,

[8:04] » yes. >> Council member Fern,

[8:06] » yes. >> Council member Bryant,

[8:08] » yes. >> Council member Hernandez,

[8:10] » yes. >> Mayor Carter,

[8:11] » yes. Item six, consideration of possible

[8:15] action to authorize the Munista public library participate in talker

[8:19] foundation library transformation grant process and provide a preliminary

[8:24] commitment to securing the funding for eligible project the foundation grant

[8:29] award council. Do you have the information in

[8:33] your packet [clears throat] but the director is here if you have any

[8:36] questions and I don't know if you want to address the council. If you have any

[8:40] questions down here, um the grant the grant process with Tucker is quite

[8:44] expensive. They ask you to go through all the steps before you even apply for

[8:47] the grant because they want to make sure that you are committed to the grant and

[8:51] everything is in order. Essentially, you fill out the grant and you're approved.

[8:54] Um the only thing is the city would have to commit to funding whatever goes above

[8:59] the grant amount of 100,000. There are two additional foundations that are

[9:03] willing to grant up to $30,000. So we would have a total of $130,000.

[9:08] And so what [laughter] the city would have to come up with either the city or

[9:11] another grant for fundraising to whatever

[9:15] » but at this time we're unaware of how much we're committed to.

[9:20] » Correct. Correct. Um tonight we can get a preliminary for me to go forward. I

[9:24] can speak with the project manager tomorrow and see how extensive or how

[9:29] much into the process we can go before. Um, I don't want to say that we're going

[9:34] to do it and then we don't and then we back out the last minute and then a

[9:37] library with us loses that. So, I can talk to her tomorrow if we can be given

[9:41] approval to move forward as far as speaking to her and giving a time for uh

[9:47] when we can back >> the letter. It just seems like it's kind

[9:52] of holding check and it's [clears throat] just it's it's a little

[9:56] nerve-wracking when we're in the middle of budget season.

[9:59] » Correct. and we kind of ask them for an open check

[10:04] which it's a great idea. I mean I love what it is, right? You know, and so

[10:11] hoping it won't be too much. >> Well, no. When I spoke to Karen and I

[10:15] asked her during the meeting I had with Mr. Trevino and Pat, we had a

[10:18] conversation about our size library and the things that we're looking to enhance

[10:22] and she said that other libraries in our situation our similar size have never

[10:27] gone over 150. And with the 130 potential that's on the table, the city

[10:33] would have to fund the other 20. But there's always fundraising and another

[10:37] opportunity to balance back this foundation.

[10:39] » I'm just trying to find the worst case scenario.

[10:41] » The worst case scenario is I talked to her tomorrow and she says, "No, you have

[10:45] to make the commitment and we say, "Okay, let's pass it to somebody else."

[10:48] » Okay. And when they start talking about all the

[10:51] planning and and all that stuff, who pays for all

[10:55] that? >> They do. They they pay for all of the

[10:58] planning. They pay for the architect. The $100,000 never comes into the city.

[11:02] The Tucker Foundation oversees all of the money. The only thing we'll get at

[11:05] the end is the equipment to install the library. And then they pay for

[11:10] [clears throat] the grant. It does. You know, and when I

[11:15] talked to Karen and we talked about what the library potentially do with this

[11:18] money, she says, "We have the ability to go through with the architect and say,

[11:22] "No, we want to keep this, this, and this, and we want to focus the money on

[11:26] these things." So, we can even reduce the costs that we're going to end up

[11:29] spending by reusing some of the things that we already have, which we have

[11:33] right in front of the library. The children's department has recently been

[11:36] done by the front of the library, so I I can see us saving some of there. Anybody

[11:49] more questions? >> Any more questions, concerns?

[11:53] Is this a project that we could bring up to the CDC and have them? We're talking

[11:56] about budget and there there was no projects for lined up for the CDC. Is

[12:00] this would this qualify?

[12:04] I'm not sure what the CDC covers, but there there we're not limited on the

[12:09] amount of grant applications we can do in conjunction with we can fund it.

[12:14] However, >> you're going to say something.

[12:21] Uh that that would be no. >> Let's see.

[12:25] » One of the things that we can do is if if the council wishes to approve it

[12:29] today, as long as you meet on the condition that as we finish our budget,

[12:34] there is something that we can afford to [clears throat] the budget after we go

[12:39] through the process. If we come out of our budget, we come out of uh balance

[12:44] fund balance. Yes. >> Which is uh which we save for for the

[12:48] last many years and we have a very healthy fund balance. Yes,

[12:51] » which is kind of right down the alley. It's kind of

[12:54] » so

[12:59] it's approved. I hope we don't get stuck a few months,

[13:02] » but also really good opportunity for us to address our ADA issues. Yes,

[13:06] » the library currently is not suitable for people in wheelchairs or walkers. We

[13:11] have issues when people try to come into the library and need assistance. Um and

[13:16] so this would give us opportunity to address some of those issues and come up

[13:19] to code. That'd be great. >> I I'll make a motion that we give the li

[13:26] library director preliminary commitment

[13:31] » to secure the funding for the talker foundation grant. I'll second council

[13:36] member motion made by council member Bryce second by council

[13:40] [clears throat] to approve the prel prel

[13:42] prel prel prel prel prel prel prel prel preliminary fun project coser foundation

[13:49] » council member >> yes

[13:52] » council member >> yes

[13:53] » council member >> yes

[13:55] » council member >> yes

[13:57] » council member Hernandez >> yes

[13:59] » mayor >> yes

[14:01] » thank you guys >> thank you for all you

[14:06] We would like to see some more flags out there and maybe&M flag.

[14:12] We don't want [laughter] we don't want flag up there.

[14:16] » We'll start with American flag. >> Put

[14:20] make sure it's a half staff this week because you know poor dollies.

[14:27] » Discussion of possible action. An amendment to the board commission's

[14:31] handbook. Uh [clears throat] mayor, members of the council, this item is

[14:35] maybe for you a couple of times before uh taken all the input that the council

[14:42] individually [clears throat] with the council has provided. Uh this final

[14:45] draft uh basically includes all of that. So unless you have any questions, but

[14:50] it's uh recommended the amend amendments to the handle be approved

[14:56] as presented.

[15:00] But of course, we'll answer any questions you may have.

[15:07] » So, my comment just kind of editing on two

[15:13] 2.2 A is parks and on 2.3A is library. So, they don't match up. It's more like

[15:22] an an editing kind of thing. If you look on page, [laughter]

[15:27] won't they use it on if you look on page five?

[15:31] the table of contents don't match up with

[15:33] » and and it says the advisory boards A is parks and recreation but if you look on

[15:37] page six A is the library >> we'll we'll make those corrections

[15:42] » it's just a it's just an edit I see it. Okay.

[15:51] [laughter]

[16:00] [snorts]

[16:06] Any questions, concerns, changes like to see

[16:12] on the uh

[16:30] » [clears throat]

[16:47] » I'll make a motion to approve the amendment to the board of commission

[16:50] hand

[16:57] approve the amendment to the board of commission handles.

[17:03] » Council member, >> yes.

[17:05] » Council member, >> yes. Council member Priz,

[17:09] » yes. >> Council member Bryant,

[17:10] » yes. >> Council member Hernandez,

[17:13] » yes. >> Mayor,

[17:14] » yes. I make discussion of possible action

[17:18] authorizing mayor and her design to execute documents related to the GL

[17:22] resilient program. >> Yes, members of the council, this week

[17:27] [clears throat] once you receive a grant uh so that you

[17:30] have individual physically signs off [clears throat] the paperwork, etc. Uh

[17:35] this one is is kind of a second time around uh because [clears throat]

[17:40] you all got the grant maybe a couple of years ago and uh and there is just a

[17:45] clear move and so now that we actually have another consultant uh that you all

[17:50] approve uh that is going to implement the program. We're having to have new

[17:55] forms to be signed and that's cooperation you as the mayor and myself

[17:59] as a city manager to execute those forms. So move to your battery which we

[18:03] recommended be approved.

[18:10] This is the comprehensive plan project.

[18:15] [clears throat] [snorts]

[18:22] » Yes. >> Probably doesn't matter. But so it says

[18:26] authorization for the mayor and our design. Does it just say specifically

[18:30] the city manager? in the motion.

[18:33] » In the motion. Okay. Then I'll make a motion that we authorize the mayor and

[18:39] city manager to execute documents relating to the GLO. Uh committees

[18:48] by council member Hernandez to authorize the mayor and city manager document GL

[18:54] communities program. >> Council member.

[18:58] » Yes. >> Council member Parker. Yes. Council

[19:01] member Ka. >> Yes.

[19:03] » Council member Bryant. >> Yes.

[19:04] » Council member Hernandez. >> Yes.

[19:06] » Mayor Per. >> Yes.

[19:09] [laughter] >> Item nine. Discussion and action on

[19:11] approval of the community development appropriations. CDC revised

[19:16] [clears throat] annual budget for fiscal year October 1, 2025 and September.

[19:21] That's wrong. October 1, 2026 through September 30th, 2027.

[19:27] there because members, you have the budget in your packet. Uh this budget of

[19:32] course was approved by the uh board of the community [clears throat]

[19:35] corporation. Uh they had a workshop and then they approved it. uh in case you

[19:41] have any questions, but basically uh the projected revenues $710,000

[19:46] from sales tax [clears throat] that the uh CDC

[19:52] $1,000 for interest earns for a total revenue for the year of $111,000.

[19:57] U administration stays the same $10,000 that the CDC thanks the the the city for

[20:07] administering their program. uh off supply unit again at 1,500

[20:13] uh and and so on down the line. Uh but this this year we're proposing 29

[20:20] they [clears throat] approved $29,500 uh for total operating expenditures.

[20:26] This is one different thing in the budget that people were able to solve

[20:29] them together. Here we're separating out the operating expenditures as the CDC

[20:34] board wanted to see it. Uh then we have the improved projects. You can see the

[20:39] ones that are currently in place. But as far as for next year, the only thing

[20:43] that would be that was obligated was the $45,000. That's the annual lease pay uh

[20:49] payment [clears throat] to the landlord for the clinic. Uh that's an ongoing

[20:53] thing at least for another couple years. And the amount for this coming year is

[20:58] $45,000. Another [laughter] thing that the the board decided to do is that uh

[21:04] [clears throat] uh they wanted to be more pro uh assertive in terms of uh how

[21:10] much money they really want to allocate that those those funds would be funding

[21:15] projects uh eligible projects uh during the fiscal year. and they took two three

[21:20] line items, put them together and basically called it discretionary funds

[21:25] for $100,000 which is the same it when it was uh divided but now it's put

[21:31] together and so that's what it is. U with that the budget expenditure for the

[21:37] year will be $174,500.

[21:42] uh that will uh uh [clears throat] decrease the the fund

[21:47] balance by $63, uh500 and uh when you uh consider the the fun

[21:56] balance the uh existing uh 384. So that fun balance will come down to $329,460.

[22:05] So, it's still even though you're budgeting for the projects,

[22:10] [clears throat] uh, very progressive, at the same time, the city that CDC still

[22:16] will have a $321,000 balance

[22:22] two years. So unless you have any questions, uh

[22:26] this is kind of a not routine but required that once the CDC approves the

[22:31] budget, then the council will approve it or obviously the council will change it.

[22:36] But uh the recommendation from the board is that this budget be approved.

[22:46] Yeah. Um before any motions make it on the agenda, it is on it say October 1st

[22:52] 2025 to September 30th 2026 and you're looking for right on the agenda

[22:58] but you can make the motion based on the the year that we're in not the year that

[23:03] says on the agenda.

[23:07] [clears throat]

[23:10] I'll make a motion that we approve the CDC budget for fiscal year October 1st,

[23:15] 2026 to September 30th, 2027. >> I'll second council Bryant by council

[23:23] member Hernandez to approve the CDC budget for the next fiscal year.

[23:29] » Council member, >> yes.

[23:31] » Council member [laughter] Parker, >> yes.

[23:33] » Council member Corning, >> yes.

[23:35] » Council member Bryant, >> yes. Council member Hernandez,

[23:38] » yes. >> Mayor Bard,

[23:40] » yes. >> Item 10, the second budget workshop

[23:45] discussion the proposed budget for fiscal year October 1,6 September 30th

[23:49] 7. Uh you were just presented with the

[23:54] draft of the budgets by department. Uh this is the process that we are taking

[23:58] this year and really that's already having enough uh workshops. Uh the the

[24:05] budget itself we're we're planning on having it ready by the first public

[24:10] hearing which will be on September 8th. Uh but the last possible date for the

[24:14] council to approve this budget is actually September 22nd. Uh what

[24:20] obviously you all approved the tax rate already uh pretty much approved the

[24:25] personnel cost uh for the city. Uh and now this the pages that were presented

[24:32] to you they're basically the graph [clears throat] of the expenditures the

[24:36] general expenditures by department uh and [clears throat] I would like to

[24:40] basically go down the budget of each one. uh we have the department head for

[24:46] the respective department and he or she will also participate answer any

[24:50] questions you may have but they also have the opportunity to advocate for

[24:55] whatever line item they feel is important for for their department um

[25:00] we'll start off with first of all [clears throat] the administration

[25:03] budget uh one of the things that I want to say

[25:07] is that that we're correcting this in this budget process [snorts] is that for

[25:12] example office supplies where you see those deficits,

[25:16] uh the communications,

[25:20] uh auto insurance, things like that. What's been happening is that uh

[25:25] [clears throat] the total amount of the premiums have been charged to the

[25:29] administration and and [clears throat] what we're going to be doing differently

[25:31] in this budget is that we will be corrating according to the departments.

[25:36] So you'll that's how we're able to decrease the amounts that we're we're

[25:40] proposing for for the fiscal year. Uh and the reason that's the reason for the

[25:44] deficit because the other departmenties didn't pay or they didn't charge the the

[25:49] their share. Um but as you can see on the bottom total the current budget is

[25:55] for $486,296.

[25:59] We're proposing at this point a budget that is 418,245

[26:05] and that [clears throat] that figure will decrease even more. Uh so

[26:09] essentially [clears throat] on the uh administration uh we're reducing and

[26:14] that uh that quarantine will be decreased even some more. Uh but if you

[26:19] have any questions on any of the aligning items uh obviously we will

[26:22] answer those questions. >> I have a question.

[26:24] » Yes. >> So I understand what you just said about

[26:27] office supplies. So my question is why did you raise the proposed amount of

[26:34] office supplies when if you look at the other department it was not used. So

[26:40] » that the other department takes care of that right. So whether we raise that or

[26:46] not >> and well the the other thing too is that

[26:49] uh that that figure is going to change it will go down as we go through the

[26:53] process but if if it comes to the point that if the department uh based on the

[26:59] budget that they have couldn't afford it uh in the end we would do we would

[27:03] actually have to subsidize it from the administration but but you're right that

[27:08] 75 would be a lot less. >> Okay. Thank you.

[27:16] And this budget is being uh processed completed [clears throat]

[27:20] uh without even factoring in the revenue that is projected to be generated this

[27:26] year because we want the budget to be done based on uh what the actual costs

[27:33] are and not just reflecting the revenue.

[27:39] the I mean you see the the attorneys we just to [laughter] No saying that the

[27:46] the attorney budget went down by $25,000 because we use the attorney much less

[27:52] now than we ever have in the past. >> Yeah.

[27:54] » And so with the $25,000 savings that we're going to see which is a fantastic

[27:58] thing. >> Yeah. So I feel bad, but you know

[28:04] situation. [laughter]

[28:07] [snorts] >> I'd rather see a lot of these questions

[28:10] not get asked. >> Exactly.

[28:11] » I have one question. Sorry. The election budget. Did we move that to

[28:17] contract services? Is that why the >> the expense was not there for the

[28:24] election that occurred this year? Oh, we got that changed today [laughter]

[28:28] because we received a a letter from the county that they they're the ones that

[28:34] charge they run the election and they charged us uh actually was 12,000

[28:39] something [clears throat] which we pay for the uh sec election,

[28:44] » right? >> Well, it turns out they only

[28:45] [clears throat] charged us 3,000 something.

[28:48] » Okay. >> So, we had a a windfall there, a

[28:50] savings. So, that's that. So that that's uh why that went down significantly cuz

[28:57] the total cost ended up being only less than $4,000.

[29:01] » Okay. Thank you.

[29:05] » Any other questions on the uh administration budget

[29:10] [clears throat] with your permission? We'll go to the now to the uh budget

[29:16] the tax collections of Cameron County there.

[29:21] Yeah. Well, we're we're we're still working to finding out [laughter] a

[29:26] better estimate amount from that. >> Yeah.

[29:32] Okay. >> On the court, uh I will I will let the

[29:37] our finance [clears throat] person and and our court director answer the only

[29:42] deficit we hear that we have there which is really not a deficit because I don't

[29:46] [clears throat] know you would explain where we ended up on that

[29:51] one. [laughter] >> Okay. Now the contract services um I

[29:57] realized that um we had paid um for the target technology which is through the

[30:02] software for the court. Um it was paid paid we were invoiced twice for the

[30:08] annual fees. So we have we have to put it as a prepaid for for this.

[30:13] » So we got to remove that >> or put it as a price for

[30:18] » Yeah. by the next year. Uh, [clears throat] okay. Now, in this

[30:22] budget, the the approved budget, the current year is $163,60

[30:29] right now. And we're still working on on our intentions for the we bring each

[30:35] budget, department budget to an even amount or possibly less than what was

[30:41] budgeted for this year. But but we still got to work with that one because it's

[30:45] going right now at this point it will go up from 16360

[30:49] to 175,250. Uh but again uh by the time you get the

[30:54] final budget uh we're [clears throat] pretty certain that it's going to be at

[30:58] hopefully no more than that 163. [clears throat] But again you have any

[31:03] questions on the any of the other line items?

[31:07] So, so that $50,000 in contract services should it be zero since this already pay

[31:16] next year? >> Oh, uh

[31:20] yes, that that will reflect it. Yeah, because what happened is that uh yeah,

[31:25] it's it's uh we we put the figure 50,000 because it was including the deficit,

[31:30] but that go away

[31:35] instead of the the two of the the total amount it will be just one payment. She

[31:39] was saying that that 50 will be decrease accordingly.

[31:44] » So it will be 50,000 be 35,000. Yeah, 35 >> pay one. We still need to budget it

[31:52] though. >> And then the 105,000 for it cost across

[31:56] the state. That's that's just an offset. We receive that money from the people

[32:02] that pay their tickets and then we we then we send that money to the state. So

[32:07] it's that's just a wash number.

[32:12] Any questions on that?

[32:16] The next one is the library budget. Uh and this one basically again and the

[32:22] process has been we provide the the first budget to the department head.

[32:26] They get a chance [clears throat] to then respond, add, delete, change and

[32:30] what have been going back and forth. Some department heads [laughter] heads

[32:34] have met with us uh on this one again in the and trying to stay within the same

[32:41] amount for the previous year for the current year and that's 28,750.

[32:46] uh we're down to 50,000, but we still have to work with the library director

[32:51] uh to make sure that that this increases will uh be [clears throat] properly

[32:58] observed by the by by the library and not that we're just cutting for the sake

[33:02] of cutting, but at the same token, we want to make sure that every dollar that

[33:07] we budget is a realistic dollar. And that's what we're doing with all the

[33:11] departments. So this one look we still is still in in

[33:15] in the in the process.

[33:22] [snorts]

[33:31] Next one is a building [clears throat] budget.

[33:36] Th this one is actually also [clears throat] going down 28,350

[33:42] to 20,700. And we still want to look a lot closer

[33:47] on the uh contract services and and mobile app [clears throat]

[33:51] as well. So it probably it could decrease even

[33:56] more.

[34:03] is uh health human uh human budget basically

[34:09] uh contract services. Uh do we uh why don't we explain those two line items?

[34:17] » The contract services uh the the [clears throat] contract services is for

[34:20] whenever we have to call uh Cameron County to pick up an animal or transport

[34:27] an animal. Uh or if we do if we transport the animal to the Cameron

[34:32] County shelter, they charge us per day to keep the animal there. And if no one

[34:39] picks it up, unfortunately, if the dog or cat or whatever it is, they

[34:43] euthanize, we still get milk for it. >> And the pest control,

[34:48] » the pest control is going to be uh that's going to be for the vector.

[34:51] That's going to that is uh it's the mosquito spray 55 uh gallon mosquito

[34:59] spray and then then we also buy the vioide and then we buy a rotational

[35:04] spray as well. And the our main our our main spray our main chemical that we use

[35:14] it's cost about $4,000 for 55 gallons. The uh the larger side is it's a briette

[35:23] and it's $700 for 300.

[35:29] And then uh we get a rotational spray. It's about another $1,900

[35:34] as well. So, and that's it. It it usually lasts us it'll last us up until

[35:40] about May. We have to start ordering again.

[35:44] » We had a good reprieve last spring summer.

[35:47] » Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We also we also Cameron County

[35:51] was nice enough to also um loan us for this season loan as a second machine.

[35:56] So, we run or two machines at a time whenever we spray.

[36:00] » Uh looking for Mr. [clears throat] L. I think uh I'm sorry. Do you have any

[36:06] comments? [clears throat] >> I do. I've just received this budget

[36:08] this afternoon when I'm sitting here and I have a lot of questions as I've sent

[36:13] forward to you about the actual expenditures from the library. And I

[36:17] question some of the spending being applied to the library as well.

[36:23] Another I would like to know why the library book is being cut down to

[36:27] $4,000. Here it says the current balance we have

[36:30] $1,300 left of last year's book. But that's also not accurate because we have

[36:36] a payment to Ingram for over $400. We still have two purchases to make for

[36:42] July for August and September, which will take us right up to our five jobs.

[36:46] With the increased price of books and shipping, $4,000 is not going to be

[36:50] enough money for books for many years. >> Also, [laughter]

[36:54] this janitorial supplies, it says that we've spent 0 in this fiscal year, which

[36:59] is also not accurate. The last time I saw I bought Jennif

[37:04] was $500 and the office supplies at $1,700 is

[37:09] also not accurate because I spent about $400.

[37:15] So I just I'm just trying to figure out why my budget request was slashed by

[37:20] $7,000. The biggest hit for the community though

[37:23] is the books. That's the one of the main reasons that the library that the

[37:27] library is open is to provide to provide books to patrons. And if we're cutting

[37:31] the budget, how are we supposed to bud? >> And then also the questions about the

[37:37] contracted services. What did we spend $10,360

[37:40] on the FY26 on when public works did majority of the

[37:45] the work from the library for free? Well, not for free, but they're not

[37:50] charging the library for that for those services.

[37:54] And this also the $7,713. What What is that? Or yeah, for weekly

[37:59] maintenance, what is that? It's really hard to come up with an accurate

[38:04] proposal for what the library actually spends in the fiscal year if I don't

[38:07] know what we're spending it for. And I've been asking those questions for

[38:11] several weeks and I've received no response. So, [laughter]

[38:15] » I have a lot of questions about what I was just giving.

[38:18] » We'll we'll we'll sit down with you and look at that. uh one of the things that

[38:21] uh that we tried to do also to you know at least [clears throat] hopefully more

[38:25] realistic is we taken what has been spent for the first 10 months of the

[38:30] year divided by 10 and then multiply that time 12 I know it's a very simple

[38:35] uh not necessarily foolproof way but that's one of the ways that we can sort

[38:40] of project you know you spend so much per month for the first 10 months and

[38:44] then you annualize it and then you put the amount that would be for the annual

[38:50] that's probably >> I do understand that. But what I'm

[38:53] saying that question whether or not some of these things actually belong to

[38:57] » Yeah. And and what I recommend is that basically and you're [clears throat]

[39:00] right. I mean we just finished this afternoon. Uh but if you're returning

[39:05] your page, be sure and ask. And as a matter of fact, you can come to the

[39:09] office. The other department heads come in and and they

[39:12] » it's real hard for me to come into >> send it to us. So if you want

[39:16] » and I I do I I sent numerous emails which I received no response.

[39:20] » Yeah. And but again, it's going to be what we can afford and especially uh

[39:26] based on making sure that the budget all budgets are within you know the the at

[39:32] this point we're not even looking at how much money we're going to have. We want

[39:35] to justify that whatever we budget we come up with is because that's what's

[39:40] needed. And of course there's going to be differences of opinion, but we will

[39:44] continue working with you on that. I understand that everybody has to have

[39:47] cuts in their department to make things, but I don't I don't think

[39:56] Okay, thank you. U [snorts] [clears throat] now parks at this point,

[40:03] but in reality, the budget wasn't cut overall. Your budget was actually

[40:07] increased by

[40:10] almost $2,000. So I just want to make sure that everyone that [clears throat]

[40:14] understands that your budget was not cut overall but maybe line by line there may

[40:20] be some differences. Okay, but the overall budget was not cut

[40:24] » considerable considerable interest is in contracted services. What are we

[40:28] spending $12,000? >> And I think that's what you need to get

[40:32] with administration about and to understand what those things are. Okay.

[40:37] And and hopefully we can come to the bottom line on it.

[40:41] » Okay. So I just want to make sure everyone's under the impression that we

[40:44] did not cut the the the budget for the park and for the library. We actually

[40:49] increased it by a little bit. So >> we known contracted services

[40:53] [clears throat] and electric services.

[40:56] » I am aware but when he says they increased the budget but they increased

[41:00] the you increase the budget on contracted services. So what those not

[41:04] so yeah contract services uh building maintenance

[41:09] » and electric services and here's the other thing too as the

[41:13] mayor was saying the current budget is 48,750

[41:18] the budget at this point recommending is $50,450.

[41:22] Now, it may force us is that to rearrange those figures so that we spend

[41:28] the money where we need to spend it and not just simply because we have $5,000

[41:32] in this line item, we're going to put $5,000 again or $6,000. We need to

[41:37] justify it and and the way it works is that by the time I get to the point that

[41:43] all of us together that I recommend a budget to them, we [clears throat] you

[41:46] and I, every department, we will be going through this process. But the

[41:50] mayor is correct. the budget overall for the library is actually increasing.

[41:55] Might not be by the amount that you would like, but it is increasing.

[42:00] » No, I I mean I agree and I see that. But so I think the answer of what we're

[42:05] spending $12,000 on, it just doesn't make sense to me to increase contract

[42:10] services >> and you definitely need you need you

[42:11] definitely need to sit down with >> staff. Justice is contract services, not

[42:17] contractor service. >> Okay. Contracting.

[42:20] » Yes. Anything that's under contract time

[42:25] like this is something that we can discuss later when you guys are

[42:29] » we have you guys >> have you have the the exact numbers in

[42:35] front of you and everybody can hash it out then

[42:38] » okay >> the next one uh the director of uh

[42:45] public works which includes the parks uh that one at this point we still need to

[42:50] do a lot more work on it because uh it's it's still higher. Of course, Mr. Wales

[42:56] is uh basically trying to justify the figures, but obviously they're going to

[43:01] have to [clears throat] decrease uh uh and some of the what's happening as well

[43:05] as remember I said in the the the administration budget is being prrated

[43:11] so that the other departments uh pay their fair share. Uh and and this is one

[43:15] of the things that happens with with these two budgets, parks and and public

[43:19] works. Uh [clears throat] and so those those figures or their budgets will

[43:25] actually [clears throat] increase because their expenses will be placed on

[43:31] the administration budget. And so when we move more to the respective budgets,

[43:35] in their case, it would increase not because they're increasing the budget.

[43:38] It's just now they're being credited for for the amount that they actually need.

[43:46] So that's that's what you [laughter] have in in those two budgets, the parks,

[43:50] recreation uh and public works uh budget as well.

[43:55] » I had a question. >> So there was no contract services for

[44:01] parks before and now now it's 25,000. Is there something new that has come up?

[44:11] Oh,

[44:15] [clears throat] >> yeah.

[44:18] » Thank you. >> See, and that was in the administration

[44:22] budget and we moved it over. So, that's said their budget is increasing, but not

[44:27] because they're increasing the money. They're we're just we're paying that

[44:32] we're paying that cost from the right [clears throat] department.

[44:36] » Thank you. Any [laughter]

[44:40] questions on the public works budget? Basically the same situation.

[44:44] [clears throat]

[44:49] Uh the next one is the prior uh budget. uh and [clears throat]

[44:54] uh as you can see the totals uh the current budget has 90,8613

[45:01] while the the in working in progress but this uh is down to this $56,500.

[45:08] There's still a lot more work that needs to be done with our director of public

[45:13] safety. Uh but one of the things that it it does is increasing and and what deal

[45:19] we can talk about the the contract that we have with those spread is EMS which

[45:23] is the next question as well.

[45:28] » Yeah. >> So the only significant increase on the

[45:32] EMS budget came from Los Fresno uh EMS contract for ambulance services. They're

[45:38] going from $80,000 a year for the ambulance service to $100,000.

[45:43] They didn't go up last year and our call volume has increased significantly. Uh

[45:49] we're at about 440 calls for this year. It's going to put us around 640.

[45:55] Five, six years ago we were around 218. So this call volume's going crazy. This

[45:59] is just an increase in service price to reflect that increase in call volume.

[46:05] But you're saying we've had a [clears throat] increase of three times

[46:08] the amount of calls since we started the EMS program since since I started in

[46:13] 2021. Uh I would have to go back and look at those figures. But in 2021, but

[46:18] my first year here we ran 218 calls uh for service EMS and fire. This year

[46:24] we're already at around the 440 mark. We should hit around 640. So we're pretty

[46:29] much tripled what we were >> exactly. Have I started the the call

[46:33] volume? This is going through the roof. We have a good program. Thanks.

[46:40] » Great job.

[46:45] » Any questions? We'll we'll have more time to talk about

[46:49] the prior budget. >> Go for it. Right now, go for it. Go

[46:53] ahead. So

[46:58] the reduction is 38% and the total from our current budget to proposed budget.

[47:05] If my records are right, if I look the right numbers, the fire budget by line

[47:09] item hasn't gone up since 2020 since 2021. Every line item stayed the same.

[47:15] We just do we work harder to do more with less every year. Just just to stay

[47:20] fair, some of the

[47:24] um janitorial from 500 to 150 for janitorial. When you go to the store,

[47:30] what are you going to get for $150 when talking about cleaning supplies? It's

[47:35] not a lie. Building [clears throat] supplies also

[47:38] down. Motor fuel the same. Fire suppressant supplies that went up was

[47:42] they're through the roof. Medical supplies from 8,500 to 3,000. about 90%

[47:47] of our call lighting is EMS medical supplies took a drastic hit. So

[47:53] if we could just like talk about later when we do

[47:57] » no and again uh what we did there what I did we basically use the procedure of

[48:02] how much you have spent and and the figures themselves could be uh corrected

[48:07] but how much you have spent for the 10 months and then annualize the amount.

[48:14] Uh last but not least, we have the police department budget. Of course, the

[48:18] police chief is here. Uh you want to go ahead and uh on that one,

[48:23] there's still work to be done, but we're getting close to the amount that we

[48:27] would like. Uh good council. Uh I know they made

[48:33] some changes here on our contract services. Uh we're going to talk with

[48:38] his boat about our jail communications and uh dispatching for fire and uh our

[48:44] contract in was May 2019 and we had spent $25,000.

[48:50] Uh since then it's stayed the same and this year uh they're raising it to

[48:56] 16,000 6. Um [clears throat] and that's being that it's providing one dispatcher

[49:01] shot which is 51,000 that they provide for us saying that they the 10 to 12

[49:06] months they're they're providing us communications

[49:09] u the jail for 8,000 and then we uh share the [clears throat] the triage for

[49:16] 2,000. So that was their that's their um that's

[49:21] what they were going off of. $60,000 for everything. So, um we went up there. Uh

[49:29] we did add some line items with the prisoner care. Usually that was being

[49:34] it's like the prisoner meals. So, we have a contract with Arbor

[49:39] does it and uh we only get them as we have our arrest, right? Uh it's a

[49:45] special price for us like the school like their school bills. Um but instead

[49:50] of it being out of contact services, we moved it to uh prison.

[49:55] Uh that went up $5,000 roughly depending on that's not including we don't so the

[50:00] the portable jail doesn't provide um I don't know if you call it the proper

[50:06] name but the paper suits for people you know trying to hurt themselves and stuff

[50:11] like that which has been an issue there lately. uh we had that issue and so

[50:16] we've been having to pay out of different items for uh other offices

[50:20] like for that type of stuff. So we moved it down there um

[50:26] and then we added a line for storage. The storage units we are planning on

[50:30] with um public works they're still coming up. We did get a herea

[50:36] the storage unit is for the ATVs that we got on the operation HB and TV. We don't

[50:40] have room at the firehouse right now. Kind of we had them in his bay and uh

[50:45] we've taken them out, but now we're trying just for the longevity of the

[50:50] usage of it, right? want to have it secured and uh the storage unit would

[50:54] would help out public works cover up the the u some trackers that they have out

[51:00] and so that I think it was $214 $214 a month and we decided to split it between

[51:06] both of us and we both be sharing it um if that's approved

[51:17] uh now in both cases It's going to increase because going

[51:23] back to the the uh administration budget uh auto insurance

[51:30] we uh [clears throat] spend on administration 25,000 yet we don't have

[51:36] a single vehicle that's for administration.

[51:39] So their budgets are correspondently going to increase when we give them that

[51:43] share of the cost. [laughter] And that's just one example.

[51:51] So in some cases you will see the budgets going up not because they're

[51:56] increasing is that we're just allocating the expenses accordingly.

[52:01] If I don't want you the numbers that we do have here you have to take in account

[52:05] that we were short staff for almost 6 months you know so like our fuel charges

[52:10] uh uniform clothing we didn't have a personnel to fill in that staff. Now

[52:14] that we're fully staffed, of course, vehicle maintenance is going to go up.

[52:18] Fuel the fuel usage is going to go up. Uh rehab responded a lot more on the on

[52:23] the vessel and that itself, it's just to fill it up. It's expensive. You know,

[52:28] getting marine fuel is expensive. [clears throat] Um the maintenance on

[52:31] the boat, I just got a quote to do some maintenance. It's about $1,600 for a

[52:36] full maintenance year, right? And that's just to say that we're we are actually

[52:41] uh probably the only vessel in the area

[52:46] that is functional. Poris has one in the shop has one. They don't have a captain

[52:51] for it or they're not in the area. So they call us and even if we're

[52:56] are uh I don't live too far from here. So we do come out and we have responded

[53:02] very frequent out on the boat. So it's been Why don't you talk about the one

[53:06] you just did the other day? Yes. >> Yeah. We just had one uh like Tuesday.

[53:13] » Yeah. We um we got a call. It was a call that a gentleman had out of Sappire

[53:20] Island. Uh 18-year-old male. He was on a kayak and it was just

[53:26] not his day. The motor went out, his pedal broke, his board broke, his sail

[53:31] was just taking him and he ended up somewhere past that portal and uh sun

[53:36] was coming down. Coast Guard couldn't get in. It was very very shallow. Uh

[53:40] their boats weren't able to make it in. And again, us being the emergency vessel

[53:43] in there. We decided to go out and we end up looking, you know, uh dark or ran

[53:49] a floor by our work. And uh we brought back slowly moving back. We didn't get

[53:55] back until like 9:30 at night. But [clears throat] that's fantastic.

[54:00] [applause]

[54:06] Okay. Uh any questions on the police budget?

[54:10] Uh your last page is the capital outlet expenses. It's pretty much just the

[54:15] current year uh for the next year. We're basically not budgeting anything but

[54:20] whatever we end up spending because this is where we pay emergencies, unforeseen

[54:25] emergencies, etc. Uh but we'll probably need money to finish the city hall

[54:32] police station expansion. uh and also the part of the roll park in

[54:39] some cases that we want to do some additional things beyond the grant. Uh

[54:43] but as the notes indicates uh any any expenditure under capital expenses the

[54:50] tradition and we will continue with that tradition will come out of a fun

[54:53] balance. It will not be part of the operating expenses budget.

[55:01] That's all we have for you today and we really plan to have you having

[55:06] [clears throat] for you a final draft because of course at the first public

[55:11] hearing September the 8th but please any of you would like to come by sit down

[55:17] with us give us your feedback your your recommendations so by time you get there

[55:23] we got everybody's input and of course oh once again we're going to be feed you

[55:28] with each department head giving them each the opportunity to make a case with

[55:33] their budget. >> I just want to thank all the department

[55:36] heads and I know it's not easy but [clears throat] last year we we

[55:41] increased our fund balance by $284,000. Okay, we we have close to $3 million

[55:50] added all together in fund balance. Okay, we keep increasing. So there's no

[55:54] way that we can't keep within a balanced budget this year and [clears throat]

[55:58] make, you know, use our taxpayer dollars and be the be the stewards for the

[56:03] taxpayers that we should be and wipe out all the waste and make sure that we're

[56:08] spending each dollar the right way. And hopefully next year we can keep lowering

[56:13] or keep the taxes the same way. So thank you guys again. I appreciate it.

[56:23] Thank you for your attention.

[56:29] » Item 13

[56:32] [sighs]

[56:38] to all in favor. >> Thank you.

[56:43] The king. >> [clears throat]

August 25, 2026 - Town Council Regular Meeting

Transcript