>>> and now from mcallen city hall, a meeting of the mcallen
city commission. >>mayor villalobos: good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to tonight's city commission meeting. We will begin with a pledge of
allegiance followed by invocation by commissioner tony aguirre. >> I pledge allegiance tots flag
of the united states of america. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and
just for all. >>commissioner aguirre: thank
you being here tonight, today, may we bow our heads. God is a generous giver. And he loves to give.
he will give his wisdom to anyone who humbly asks for it.
his gift for us that we may do what is right and just so we may
live successful lives. Elected officials, if they ask
for wisdom, we will in turn govern our communities with
delightful hearts and minds to make sound, fair and right decisions for all the people in our region lord, we ask you and
thank you for all the blessings you have given throughout your
years. In your name we pray, amen.
>>mayor villalobos: okay, we have a presentation, governor's
community achievement award. >> thank you, mayor.
thank you, city commissioners. Thank you to the city manager.
keep mcallen beautiful was recognized by keep texas
beautiful as one of ten winners for the 2023 governor's community achievement award for our outstanding overall effort
to keep our community looking beautiful. Judges from across the state chose winners based on their
achievements. This award is one of the most covet and annual environmental and community improvement awards
in texas. Last year in 2022, 4800
volunteers gave 9906 hours to keep mcallen beautiful.
and their time helped beautify the city through cleanup and
beautification projects and project clean neighborhoods collecting 543 tons of trash and bulky waste and 9082 tires.
representing a value of over 299,000 in volunteered time.
canby helpeded green up our city by distributing 1500 trees and
planting 100 trees and shrubs in our parks and public spaces. How about those awesome art irrigation pipes.
award will split $2 million in landscape funding from texas department of transportation. Mcallen will receive $290,000 in
landscaping for a project along a txdot right-of-way.
this is a great team effort, and I would like to especially thank
public works and all the other city departments that are here and helped us throughout the year and also our staff.
and as well as our board members that are here today,
representing keep mcallen beautiful.
join us watching a short video clip created by txdot for our
restrike justice award. ♪
>>> mcallen is a thriving city located in the rio grande valley
and the 21st most populous city in texas. Over 140,000 residents, it takes a lot of work to keep mcallen
beautiful. The community of mcallen is deeply involved in the city's beautification and cleanup
efforts thanks to the city and team at keep mcallen beautiful.
with extensive bilingual outreach campaign, keep mcallen
beautiful have volunteers and local organizations to care for
their community. Planted tree across the community including a small grove of citrus trees.
planting and tree care information to its residents ensuring healthy, successful growth for years to come.
in addition to anti-hitting and recycling kmb have installed
netting and drainage inlets and a screening for southwest
waterway for litter control for clean and safe spaces for people and wild. Life kmb's youth program
contributes tots mcallen of trash cleanups, adopt a park program, and the paint mcallen beautiful program that low
incomed, disabled and elderly mcallen residents have their homes painted by volunteers for free.
the agriculture history of mcallen can be seen by the 200 irrigation pipes located throughout the city.
local artists have transported many of these pipes through
artwork through the rich art project adding vibrant colors to
the cityscape and giving a chance to display their works for thousands of people every day.
congratulations to mcallen for all you do you to keep mcallen beau beautiful.
[applause] thank you so much. And I would like to say, we will be proudly displaying this sign
somewhere in our city. So thank you, again. Thank you very much. >>mayor villalobos: that is
awesome.
anybody sign up for public comment? Next we have our public hearings.
but before we begin, I think I -- I just want to -- to the
commission, here in mcallen we have this thing about, weigh do what we think is right and that's it.
whatever decision we make, we always respect each other and I expect that to be the same this way.
we have a -- a -- a item that is very contentious which is the reason we have a lot of the community and actually it is
nice to see a lot of you all here. And I wish I -- we could see this more often whether it is
because something that is -- I guess, that is controversial as what we have right now. Or even when we are just voting
because mcallen is very low when it comes to turnout in terms of voting. It is very important that we all
get involved. Thank you all for being here. Once again, also, one side or the other is not going to be
happy. Okay. So I ask that please respect each other.
and that, look, y'all -- you all elected these individuals, a
representative body of our community. It is my district, yet our decision have to effect the
whole city. And I ask to you please respect each other. And I think council has a few
things today how we are going to proceed. >> thank you, mayor. If you signed up to speak this
evening, please be prepared to approach the designated microphone at the poed yurm in the front of the room when your
name is called. Please note that at time the
texas open meeting act generally were exhibits the city
commission from engage with speakers and should not be determined as disinterest. The public's understand
something appreciated. To ensure order and efficiency,
the following rules will be distributely enforced.
all speaker also have opportunity to speak. You have a maximum of three minutes to speak. The mayor or presiding officer, at his discretion may reduce the
allotted time for speakers to ensure meeting efficiency. Please note the timer at the podium will guide you through
your allotted time. The green light will illuminate when your time begins. After two minutes, the why he
will low light will illuminate and you will hear a audible warning. This is your one-minute warning.
the time concluded when there is a red light and a continuous
audible beep sounding. At this point, please stop speaking. The following conduct is
prohibited. Failure to yield the floor when a speaker's time is concluded. Comments that are not related to
a city business item. Loud, threatening and hostile,
vulgar and obscene language. Failure or refusal to comply with an explicit request of a presiding order may result in
expulsion and may be a violation of the texas penal code.
if you wish to speak during the public hearing, speaker sign-up cards available in the lobby so you can be recognized and
provided an opportunity to speak during the public hearing on agenda items one and two under the rezonings.
please complete the speaker card by listing your name, complete
access including the city of which you reside and if you speak for or against the items. Only speaker who turned in cards
will be recognized to speak on these items. Thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you.
okay. Let's see. What do we have. Public hearing.
>> mayor, commissioners. Tonight we have one item listed under routine. Conditional use permit for smoke
shop. Comes with a favorable recommendation of planning and zoning and received no
opposition. Could be heard in one motion or
individually. >>mayor villalobos: anyone to speak against the item. Anyone to speak against the item? >> so moved.
>> second. >> all in favor, say aye. Against? Motion carries, item b.
>> mayor, I have a question of the council. Since the -- -- since the majority of the people are here
for both items one and two, should we take both items together? Or do you want to take one
-- b-1 or b-2 separately. >> at the discretion of the
commission, you can consider them together. >>. >>mayor villalobos: I say we take them together. >> okay okay.
>> thank you, mayor. The properties located along the
west side of south ware, south of new k57 house drive.
the rezoning on the screen 30.18. The one to the south 23.68. Adjacent zoning is ao to the
west, south and east. R-1 to the north, and the next
one have ao through all four sides.
surrounding uses, champion golf course, community center and single-family homes. The properties currently do not
have buildings on them. C-1 is being proposed for this one and I-1 for the other for a technology office campus.
envision mcallen at the note these properties with a future land use of employment center which is appropriate for a mix
of retail, office, industrial and other nonresidential developments. The developments trend along
south ware has been commercial going north and industrial south
with residential spread throughout. Staff previously received three phone calls in opposition to the
rezonings request citing drainage, traffic and a desire to preserve the existing land use.
the items were presented at the july 12 planning and zoning commission meeting where there were numerous residents to
showed up in opposition citing the same issue, again, drainage,
traffic, desire to preserve the existing land use. At that meeting, some residents submitted a petition with 69
signatures, after the proposed developer presented their mission for the property, p&z recommended disapproval of both
rezoning requests. Today another petition for the property to the north, which is going to c-1 with signatures
from owners along new house drive.
and that petition has triggered a supermajority of all members
for approval. We are recommending approval.
>>mayor villalobos: we heard a little bit with the p-and-delete space>z. Start with who is in favor of
it. First, we had some issues -- can
somebody address issue whether this is a park or not or are we going to do that? >> right.
we actually had several opportunities for the community to come out and have the discussion about this rezoning,
mayor. And we did a lot more then is
required by law for a rezoning. One of the reasons was there was
some concern from members of the community that they didn't know what was going to go on the property.
that is a not a requirement of the rezoning, but nevertheless, we recommended to the city commission we not take up the
item a couple of months ago and start over. And we contacted the -- the company that we are proposing to
locate here and asked if they were following present to the p&z and to a town hall meeting which they did.
during those meetings, there have been a lot of discussion and I think you are right. We appreciate the fact that the
community wants to be involved in this issue as they should be with everything that we do here at city hall; however, in having
those meetings both at p&z and the town hall.
a lot of information that was just plainly inaccurate. So what I would like to do. A very few things.
I would like to place into the record facts as we know them.
you can debate those issues if you would like. But as we know them, here at city hall, these are facts as we
know it. So part of the process that we have to go through in order for this facility or any other to be
located in this location, it has to go through a process that
involves fema. We have been work on this for over a year to ensure that we know what we want to build or
what they want to build, and it is done properly. Among other things, what fema requires is, number one, that
the building is out of a flood plain or a flood zone.
one of the -- another issue that came up was the fact that this property is in a flood way. It is not.
this is not a property that is in a flood way.
it is in a flood zone. While they may sound similar, there is a great difference between the two.
there is a lot of property in the city of mcallen located in flood zones. Many of our citizens in fact
live in flood zones. They have to do certain issues
to mitigate that situation. But they are allowed to build.
and so among other things, fema requires you to it be out of the
100-year flood plain. In order to it be in the 100
year flood plain in this location, you must have an
elevation of 98.8 feet above mean sea level.
98.8. The 500-year flood plain requires you to be at 100.5 feet above being sea level.
soho's program to build at 102.5 feet above mean sea level.
what that has done is raised concern of the very fact that the building is going to be higher than the area around it.
another thing that fema requires us to -- to confirm is that it
will not impact the flow of that flood way with this building.
it requires the engineer, which I am going to have speak here in a minute, show that the impact due to flooding will not impact
it upstream or downstream. If that study doesn't accomplish
that, it will not be approved. Another thing that I would like
to stress is the concern of drainage. I am going to tell you this. I am going to tell the whole
community that this body has never in my career been so
focused on improving infrastructure, especially
drainage. The last five years -- and let me tell you, I want to thank the community for their patience.
we have got this city all torn up because we are working as fast as we possibly can to ensure that drainage is improved
throughout the city of mcallen, including south mcallen, balboa
angers and others. It is imperative -- acres and
others. It is imperative for this body and city management to do everything we can to do what is
right for our community, including quality of life, which you cannot have without proper drainage.
and so I have got a map here in front of you that the public can
also see. These are projects that we are doing or have already done in south mcallen alone.
let me tell you, the price tag for the drainage improvements
that we are doing in the city of mcallen exceed $60 million in
drainage. Among them in south mcallen is balboa acres, stormwater pump station, the mission inlet
improvement, balboa improvements, the sierra
avenue bypass pass. By the way, the timer does not go against me. I am presenting.
>> this is staff presentation. >> turn that off.
[laughter] sarah avenue stormwater bypass.
idela drainage and balboa resources water retention. That is a major, major project we are going to do north of the
water treatment plant to ensure that we relieve as much as
possible of the existing drainage problems and improve it moving forward. Another thing that I heard at a
meeting was the fact that we have inadequate amount of green
space. And the figure I heard that really shook me up a little bit wases that we have a.1% of green
space in mcallen, that, my friends and members of my
community is a gross misrepresentation of what we have in the city of mcallen. We, in fact, have 7.9% or 79
times what was said at a public hearing in green space.
however, 7.9% is not enough. In our comprehensive plan, we know that our goal is to almost double it to 15%.
we also heard that -- that this project will eliminate bird
sanctuaries, bird life and natural fauna. That is just not the case and certainly not something that this body would ever do. Sfwlshgzoho in fact plans to add
more -- zoho will give more native trees and attract more
bids to the location. Further, today in our agenda, we are recommending to the city commission that we award a
project caquinta mazatlan. Quinta mazatlan is one of the
favorite places that this community has. It is a jewel. Especially for our young kids.
our young kids are going to be the biggest benefactor of this
project, because of the mouu we have with the mcallen
independent school district, they will be allowed to visit that community, that campus, while in school or not at little
to no cost to that child. That was something that we worked on years ago before we even contemplated this massive
expansion, which, by the way, will be over $50 million that we
will award today. And guess what. The -- the entity that is putting in the least amount of
money is the city of mcallen. We have got partners from the
mcallen independent school district. From the united states economic development agency.
the texas state parks and wildlife.
from the texas rio grande valley and hidalgo county and many
others. Something that this community should be have he, very proud of. Another things that I heard, there are no parks around this
area. I will tell that you we have changed our ordinances specifically in the last several
years just to ensure that we upgrade parks in south mcallen.
that is this body and the body that came before them. So in the immediate area of this location is west side park,
mcallen nature center, uvalde park, south side bark, balboa
park, cascade park, spring fest park, los encintas, quinta
mazatlan, airport park, and additionally others. Also heard that -- this is the only place to play disc golf.
disc golf is popular. We understand that. This is not the end. We continue to continue to look
at places why we can find location where is disc golf can be enjoyed. I want to quote something from
the professionaldisc golf association.
this is not my quote. There are other 11 other disc
golf location in the rio grande valley. Let's talk of the big topic, the big elephant in the room,
whether this disc park is a park. You know, we have attempted to be as transparent to be as we
possibly can. We had two public hearings at a planning and zoning meeting and town hall meeting that is not
required, we did it anyway, because we wanted to provide the community the information that we had.
what I will say is from the very beginning. And there is an elected official here or actually a couple of
them that was here when this discussion happened that this area was always designated to be developed for good jobs.
okay. For good jobs we need in mcallen. And specifically we need them in
south mcallen. I have probably heard such criticism that we do not do what we should in south mcallen.
well, here we are, folks. This one of the greatest
developments that we have had maybe in decades.
and it is for the very purpose to ensure that our children, that your children have a place to go and have a great job and
stay home. Stay here in the rio grande valley and not move away. So I -- I am going to -- for the
record, mayor, give you a couple of themmos that, among other
things, show that this -- that this location was, one, never
intended to be a park. And two, was a deliberate action
by the administration and the city commission not to make it a
park, because they knew -- and this was before my time and
anybody at this table. They knew by designating it a park, this would happen. And so it was a very deliberate
action. There is a memo dated january 9,
2010 on your desk that become a public record -- that is a public record that will be part of the record that the then
parks and recreation director requested through this memo copy
uploaded here. That says that this site -- and I quote, become a park site. That was the request by the
parks and recreation director. That that location become a park
site. End of quote. She goes on to describe why the recommendation is being made.
among them, that the department would like to add disc golf to
our programs. The answer was, no. How do we know that? Because three years later, memo
also on your table through a memo of march 20, 2013, three
years later, same parks director submitted a memo to the city
manager to go to the city commission for the same request.
through that memo and, again, requesting for a -- for a disc
golf course. And in that memo, and I quote, it says, we could install a course on that site because it
would not have to be identified as a park.
so it can be saved for future development.
end of quote. So before there was ever any
play of disc golf. Before of any zoho blessing this
community wanting to come to mcallen, we had made that
determination. So there is no doubt in our mind
that we have represented the facts as we know them.
so, folks, the last thing hail say is that in our comprehensive
plan, this location is shown as an employment center.
again, we went through public hearings. We have been working on that for a couple of years.
never hid that fact from anyone and lastly, I will say that we
are the applicant of this proposal.
and so we are prepared for the public hearing. And we recommend approval. Thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: I we will begin with individuals. I think we heard quite a bit on the people against it at p&z.
everybody will have an opportunity to talk for and against. We have quite a bit and we ask
that you all be respectful of the time. If like council says, if time is over, please -- or if you will
be speaking regarding the same item. We already know kind of some of the issues for or against.
so we will begin with that. Mr. Greg wilcox.
>> you must have a stack of cards. I feel like I just won the lottery.
councilman rodriguez, thank you for your presentation. I thought that was very thoughtful and interesting.
I moved to the area about two years ago. My wife and I felt like this was a great place to make an
investment with our time and money and company. And I think that -- that has paid off in large part because
of the decisions that are made in this room by people like
yourself to advance the quality of life for people who live here. And I -- I like to ask people in
their mid-20s, younger than me, what they think would make this area better and they always say, without a doubt, career
opportunities, better paying jobs. That is almost always out of their mouth.
as someone who has a career and doesn't think about that personally as much, the thing I think a lot about is access to
green space. These are two very important metrics that you think about when you think about advance
qualities of life. It is extremely rare in my
limited experience that a company understands both and
following contribute to both. The hottest place on earth is a walmart parking lo the. No green.
it's tough there. I think green space is a broad
topic. My personal feeling about that is a green space is -- I would like to call it a community
living room. A place where people can get together. Meet strangers. And understand a common culture and disc golf courses do that,
in large part. ; however, I think that the -- the decisions should be clear that it is so amazing that a
company will be able to come down and make an investment and understand how to deliver both of those things.
I am in support of the development. I am excited about it. But I feel acutely the lack of
access to green space. I am not talking about, you know, a patch of grasses with a jungle gym on it.
that doesn't really appeal to me. May not surprise you, but I am tall.
I can reach the rings. I can walk right across. I need something more expansive than that.
I feel this is a really excellent case study on how to
make decisions that impact the quality of life of residents that you have a company that is willing to accomplish two of
those very basic metrics. And I also, according what --
what city manager rodriguez said, you understand that.
that is something you want to contribute and advance upon for this community. So if the decision is made to
bring in zoho, I would hope that the people behind me that are against that don't feel it is a loss.
that you stated very clearly you understand their concerns and
following pursue those and make them happy. That is all I have to say about that. Thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you
so much, mr. Wilcox. Gabriel elisando.
hello, commission. Thank you. Thank you for this time. I am a mcallen native.
after living in los angeles and austin for the last -- better part of 15 years, working in marketing and tech, I it he
sided to move back here in 2018 to perhaps in this community's growth and prosperity. One of my current passions is
coordinating the marketing for the mcallen heritage center.
history museum. I reviewed the zoho 31-page
proposal and urgent to talk to this item. Central striking a balance between promoting economic
growth and preserving and the social environment of mcallen. You know, it takes a few things. Takes community engagement.
great to see the community out here. And it takes thoughtful planning.
consideration of the needs and the concerns for all the citizens, all the stakeholders for this project proposed plans.
and after analyzing the proposal. I really do not see this as a simple copy and paste of what is
happening in other tech hubs. I -- I actually might see this as a possible best-case scenario for economic growth and
innovation. I see within the proposal, opportunities for both individuals coming out of the
sgrej with degrees and individuals without college
degrees pursuing their education. I see a maintenance of emphasis of keeping local tall tent home
instead of them seeking work and opportunities elsewhere.
I see demonstrations in the past wnl this proposal to preserve
green space. I see thoughtful strategies to offset environmental and wildlife impacts.
and I am glad that y'all have talked about those things as well. 36% of our population in mcallen
is 18 years and younger. 36%.
yet the median income of our lovely city is $22,000.
we have a very healthy young population here. And they want and they need options .we really want aspiring
and innovative jobs. I think this is a very rare opportunity to keep talent here and an opportunity to raise
successful families and also to invest back in the community. Thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. We have richard -- judge richard
cor cortez.
>> honorable mayor and commissioners, I am rich cortez,
I'm here representing the hidalgo county task forces of task force. Hidalgo county is one of the most populace counties in the state of texas and we have 254.
I think we are number seven now, and at least a million people
living in this county. There are many things that we are proud of living here in hidalgo county, but we can not
be proud of the fact that for the last five decades, and that
is 50 years, hidalgo county has had a 20% or more poverty rate
located here in town. In fact, today, we have a 29%
poverty rate. 37% of our children are food insecure. 15% of our senior citizens are
food insecure. Our youth ages of 16-19, 9% --
almost 9%. .9% are classified as disconnected youth, meaning they are neither going to school or
they are working. The next logical projection for them to go is they are going to have babies.
so the cycle of poverty continues.
so who is responsible? Who is supposed to fix these things? Okay. And poverty has been a very complex issue not only here but
everywhere in the world, especially in the united states. But we have to do something. So I formed this prosperity kav.
a very complicated issue. And the plan is for human
capital for training, skilled training, education for higher learning for our people. And at the conclusion of that
pipeline of training at the end of the day is to match it with a job. In fact, we have been doing a
pretty good job here. We have ut rvg.
we have south texas college and texas a&m right now.
the problem we have though, we continue to have a very high
migration. Domestic my gracing rate out of hidalgo county because if we created the human capital, you
can't match it with a job. Even though we are very
successful of creating the human capital. If we don't keep it, they will lose them and two bad things
happen. We don't gain from the human capital and we will have to compete with it since it is not
here. A very critical part of the
prosperity task force. I see daniel silva from.
ex-mayor darling with costep. All dedicated to attract
investment here. You all have been champions for green space. You have been champions for
everything that is good about a community. You are the leading community of what a community mud is be like.
you are faced a very difficult decision, but there are times that you have to sacrifice something to gain something.
when a general sends a soldier up the hill, he knows there will
be casualties, but the need to attack that hill is there. We are facing some critical issues going forward.
if we do not fix this problem of losing our more talented people
somewhere else because the opportunities aren't here, I am sorry, then we are going to lose what we gained.
thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you so much, judge. We have kim darling, major jim
darling. There he is. >> thank you. And I am a little nervous. For 45 years I stood on that side of the dias.
this is the first time I am on this side. I want to thank you for allowing me to be here.
ex-mayor cortez, what he said, but I am on a couple of economic
development corporations, and we search and search for opportunities for our young people to stay here.
I am not going to ask people to raise their hands, it is not appropriate, I bet you if I asked how many people -- parents
in this room have their kids living in austin, dallas,
california, new york because their kids can't find the kind of jobs they have either been educated for or desire, because
we can't do that. So this is an opportunity -- I think a golden opportunity. I have been around for the last
two years with economic development and environmental matters, by the way, and this is a huge opportunity for us -- to
me -- for a need that we have. We can educate the kids all you
want at u of rgv. I work part-time for them and I
can't speak for them. If you can't find a job at the end of the diploma, you will lose that person.
medical school is a game changer. It is historical. Another chance to make history
by having that kind of company that provides job that we are trying to train kids not for this year but the 20 years to
come. I hope you consider that. I might say I was here when we closed -- railroad went in.
it didn't exist and stopped on top of the levee. A golf course, and turned it into a 27-hole golf course.
when the road came kind of separated it. We reduced the golf course to 18.
and ware road, and we talked of a tunnel underneath the road. We said, no, we don't do that. What did we do?
we did nothing. The mexican trade and when all that happened we said it will move here.
move up north. That is why it was reserve and
we didn't do anything with it. Unfortunately, it looks pretty bad and for that reason, we know what we will do with it.
the thing that changed five or six years ago.
change that flood way. You have to provide drainage
that turns that flowage easement. And so that is what the city is going through that process.
that didn't exist 10 or 20 years ago. Would do nothing with the land and not put buildings on it or
anything else. Decided some day that may happen and it was a decision of the commission at the time to leave
it like it is. And are then, of course, you said the history with the disc golf playing.
this kind of gives me the goose bumps because thinking of something that happened 35 or 40 years ago that is now coming to
truth. The opportunity for this is right now. And I hope that you take advantage of it. I understand people are upset.
I am the monarch mayor, by the way. I have a monarch garden in the back yard.
they put the plants and gave me a bill for $600. I guess I am the monarch mayor and I had to plan them.
I have birds and bees in the back yard and my milkweed and all that. I support.
I understand people about parks and nature, but I know you do too. With a new park coming on board
and all the rest, you are meeting that need. Thank you. Appreciate it.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. Mr. Patel. Barry patel.
>> thank you, mayor, city council.
this opportunity to petition our government in this way in a very public way is very fundamental to our democracy as we although
and thank you very much for that and thank you for the community for showing up. And getting their voice out
there. I -- I know that several things that I wanted to say have already been said.
so I will just mention a few things that we come across in
all businesses every day. And that is training young people and trying to give them opportunities to move forward in
our industry. Zoho is an unique company.
we have done much research on it. Since this came on the radar, I have discusseded this with the
huge family that we have in the rio grande valley and especially
mcallen. The 52 members of our family and the 16 high school graduates coming out of high school this
will coming year. They are graduating mcallen. I would like each and every one of them toll have an opportunity to work here in mcallen and stay in mcallen and contribute to
this community. So I ask respectfully that you
do everything you can to bring this company here, give them the
opportunity to expand. Give them the opportunity to bring satellite industries that support this kind of business.
and provide this opportunity to our youngsters in the future. I think we are sick and tired of hearing hidalgo county
consistently has five to seven percent higher unemployment than the rest of the state and the country.
we want to be number one. We want to provide job
opportunities. Y'all have done a tremendous job in mcallen. And encouraged people like us to
invest quite a bit here. And we thank you for that. We want that momentum to continue for our youth.
and I have selfish reasons. I have three grandkids that were born right here in mcallen. That -- talking to the doctor
there is, they deliver 1,000 babies a month. 15 to 17 years from now, these kids will be looking for
opportunities. We are a young community. So I hope you all can do everything you can to provide
this opportunity to this company. I think it is important to our future. It is important for our children.
thank you very much. >>mayor villalobos: thank you, mr. Patel. We have eric kennedy.
>> commissioners, mayor, city manager, eric kennedy, small
glass contractors, division president. For me, my son played for top gun basketball, a select team
here in the rio grande valley and he gets his great skills from his mother, obviously, but he -- he was -- he had -- one of
the players on the team, his father graduated here in the rio
grande valley. He grew up here. And when he graduated, he actually went to nationals and
competed in nationals. We went to tsct, got a plumbing
degree. Went across the united states and got first place representing the rio grande valley in honors
and everything else. He came back to the rio grande
valley. He couldn't get a good paying job. His family lived here 22 years.
he has been commuting back with his family here in the rio grande valley. He has been in pennsylvania.
he has been in austin. He has been in houston. My wife's cousins grew up here in mcallen.
and every single one of them left to go get good paying jobs
instead of staying here in the rio grande valley. One of them was in the tech industry and still in the tech
industry. My uncle left the rio grande valley to get a good paying job. We believe that zoho is
providing great opportunities for our children and grandchildren and for our community here.
and we support this company coming providing these
opportunities. Thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. We have selva. >> she turned.
a card and I am not sure she wanted to speak. Did you or did you not want to speak, miss sera?
>> I think the other one will be for -- a little bit later on. Mayor, commissioners, elba sera. I was born and raised in this
community. I have been a community volunteer all my life. In hopes of giving back to the community that I love and who has been so good to me and my
family. I would like to state I am in favor of zoh to shgz development that the commission is
considering today. I understand that the development still needs approval from fema and all the other
things roel rodriguez outlined earlier.
I want to make sure people who are here and against understand we elected to you make these decisions.
this community has been divided before on many issues in the
past. Been there and see us go through it. And come together for the betterment of the city and the region.
I want people to understand you will do your best. Try to get another park. You will alleviate the drainage,
all the things. >>done to protect and keep everybody safe and happy. Done to protect and keep everybody safe and happy. And I think we will do it. Thank you for what you do.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you so much, miss sera.
miss >> hello, thank you for having
me today. I'm here on behalf of
of nedra kinerc who can't be here today. She is in arizona and this is from her.
mayor villalobos and city commissioners I support the
proposal for technology campus for the proposed facilities in mcallen. I ask for the welfare of our
city and economic well being of our citizens that the mcallen
city commission vote for the zoho rezoning request. The zoho proposal is exactly what the hidalgo county kopp
prosperity task force is working to achieve a better economic life for many of our residents. I am a private citizen who
fought for responsible growth in mcallen for many years and you guys know that. Zoho is a responsible company
that will bring high-paying jobs taxes for our schools and city,
and a commitment of preserving and protecting green space in our area. Zoho will develop eight acres
and eventually 25 acres of the 92-acre tracts leaving the regs
as natural as possible with existing vegetation. Zoh locks plant a great many fruit trees and teach community
gardening with excess food going to the food bank. They will add more trees, besides the orchards to add bird
and wildlife habitat and only remove minimal vegetation for
the buildings. An area of growing fruits and vegetable tables. Excess produce will be donated
to the food pantry. Ponds will be stocked with native fish. Several bee lives are planned.
zoho plans to cultivate an overall ecosystem to protects
and it preserving the region especially local and migratory
birds. They will use solar panels and water harvesting to become self-sufficient.
zoho builds with local talent and materials. A review by fema is under way to improve the application to bring
the 25 developable acres out of the food plan -- flood plain
based on improvements to be done to the drainage ways by using
the on-site wetlands to make them bigger and deeper.
a community event center will host education sessions for residents, organic farming, technology, manufacturing, etc.
there will be an outdpavilion f community coding to attend and
learn new skills. Zoho has approach track regard of bringing these benefits to other areas.
zoho talks the tauksz and also walks the walks. I support the zoho proposal to bring improvements, jobs and tax
monies to our neighborhood and city. Please vote to accept the zoho rezoning proposal.
nedra kanerc. And I second it. Thank you very much. >>mayor villalobos: you also
signed up individual lead. >> she signed up to speak for
her. >>mayor villalobos: thank you. Talinda canta. >> good afternoon.
I have a prepared statement in collaboration with family, friends and colleagues. Good afternoon, mayor, city
commission. I stand before you as a citizen, a former app developer and a present-day advocate for the
future of our great city, asking that you please consider voting
in favor of zoho technology campus but specifically at the
proposed location in south mcallen. Oftentimes as decision-makers we are forced to choose either
side, but the beauty is that both things can actually exist. We can pave the way for high-tech industry to call
mcallen home. And also paying high-tech jobs while preserving and respecting our green space.
both of those will be true through zoho's commitment to
tech and the environment. A trustee for south texas
college. Privy to the heart of zoho to our region. In a panel, from zoho spoke of
the attraction to our region in the first place. They noticed an uptick of applicants willing to relocate
to work at zoho. It sparked enough interest to
work alongside south texas college. And since then international advocates for the mcallen area.
they understand the great talent we have in our people and you have an opportunity to say yes to reducing the human company
tall export plaguing our region. Median salaries of $100,000 for
our community. And saying yes to the preservation of our land that they are committed to
protecting. As our region comes together to eradicate poverty, it is opportunities that zoho present
us today that give us many steps closer to that eradication.
it is imperative that you vote yes. I understand plenty of other spaces that zoho could cause
home in our region. What is unique to this property in question today is the proximity to south texas
college, built and pecan campus making it an unique corridor for
our future and proximity to our human capital. Today I am not here to ask you for one thing.
I'm here to ask you for three. Why say yes too zoho. Gentlemen pro neglecting the green space.
say yes to our friends in the disc community. All can be achieved today. You can vote yes for zoho and
green space and promising to give our disc golful community a great place to play in another beautiful park in mcallen.
thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you. We have mr. Freeland. >> good afternoon.
my name is mark freeland. I am a mcallen, reside 1319
north 9th. Practices law at 806 pecan here
in mcallen. I am current chairman of the board of directors of both the mcallen economic development
corporation and the mcallen foreign trade zone.
both are nonprofit corporations to encourage the economic
prosperity of mcallen for the benefit of their citizens. In particular, they work closely with the city of mcallen and the
chamber of commerce to track new business to our community. That is why I'm here today as have been pointed out, mcallen
seems to be exporting its talent. And the city in recent years charged them with the task to
target high-tech companies to come to our area that cannot
only invest in building new -- new construction and equipment from a tax base standpoint, but also bring significant
employment opportunities for high-paying technology and technology related jobs. In other words, what I would
call a two-fer. Significant investment plus
high-skilled, high-paying jobs. Consistent with this focus, they have been working closely since 2020 to promote as a viable
facilities location for our high-tech international company. In this regard, the trade zone believed in zoho and made one of
their buildings available to zoho for their start-up area
in mcallen. They outgrew the space in two years. The city made incubator space at
the city main street library for phase two of zoho's expansion.
zoho has decided to invest in mcallen in a big way. It believes it has a bright future in mcallen.
mcallen is proved itself as a good place forzoho's business
model. They want to build an ecologically green campus for up to 500 employees on
approximately 97 acres of marginally developable land that
the city zones and zoned ao. In the city of mcallen and
mcallen independent school district. This property has been held for development for years.
it be not be used inle it is rezoned. The proposed rezoning supports zoho's intended use of
the property and to allow zoh toshgz address the development
issue with locating zoho's proposed campus. No guarantee once the land is rezoned it can be made to work
for zoho, but it can, based on zoho success and track record
for a state-of-the-art neighborhood-friendly technology campus on this site, this could not.be good for mcallen in the
near term. It could very well put mcallen on the map for other technology-related businesses to
come to mcallen. It will prime the pump, so to speak. This is the type of business
that the mbc was tasked to bring to the city.
in my opinion, zoho ecologically green campus will be a better fit for the property. Unlikely that another
prospective user will agreed to preserve so much green area, be
a solution to local drainage issue rather that an cause. A nonpolluting use. Be environmentally oriented.
let alone bring a number of high paying, high-tech jobs to the
community, in particular to south mcallen. I just think it checks all the boxes.
in far of using the property for its highest and best use. I can't think of a better fit for the property than zoho's
proposed use. As I said before, this journey has to start with rezoning the property.
therefore, I urge the city commission to approve both of the rezoning applications. Thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. Let's mix it up a little bit. Victoria guerra.
>> mr. Mayor, commissioners, thank you for allowing us to speak today. My intention was really to speak
as -- as -- in a public comment before the commencement of the hearing. I just wanted to inform you all
that there was a great confusion today about how it was that we needed to sign up to speak. And I am speaking on behalf of
those in favor against the zoning proposal. One person who brought the petitions over from the
neighboring -- neighboring houses was told that we needed to sign up by 4:00 to speak for public comment.
that in itself is a true -- a true comment by the city
official or the city employee. But it confused us, because we
had previously found out that we needed to sign up at 5:00. Secondly, we -- I found out from talking to two different people
at the city secretary office that we needed to speak -- sign up by 5:00 for the deadline to speak in public comment for the
hearing -- for the hearing. The zoning hearing. Then third, we heard from the city employees.
making 4:00 the deadline because there will be a lot of people here and we are asking that the mayor, commissioners allow all
people to comment as this is their due -- this is -- this is
going to be a long hearing. So what I am asking you today is
allow all people to speak, not just those who signed up.
we don't think -- there may not be that many who haven't signed
up but in the event someone walks in late and haven't been able to sign up, we are asking that you allow everyone to
speak, whether they be for or against. This is -- this is a matter that affects everyone. Not just neighboring homes. Not just the business community.
it affects everybody. This is a due process hearing and, again, we are asking you indulge us and allow us to speak
within the time frame that you allow. Thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you
so much. Madeline crow.
>> she left. >>mayor villalobos: she left.
okay. We have gabriel elisando.
he already spoke? Okay.
alexis raselies. I am not sure.
alexis? >> if good good afternoon. >>mayor villalobos: good afternoon. >> alexis raselis. I am a professor at the
university of texas rio grande valley.
I study climate change on urban areas. I spoke to some of you before just about some of the work we
do. I think I would like to clarify a few things. I mean, I have also seen some of
the statistics mr. Rodriguez that you cited. I wasn't quite sure what the actual statistic was.
it is actually quite hard to find. I have heard the.1%. I know that austin is at 10%.
which, you know, I think there is a big gap there between where
we are and where austin is. According a study done in 2015,
published by texas state university, mcallen has a -- has a coverage, a tree canopy coverage of 2.4%.
that is what is published. They don't look at just parks but they look at all the trees in the city.
and they compare that to the -- to the acreage of impermeable
surfaces that include that include -- buildings. And I am doing a study with the texas forest service because
they are -- and they selected the city of texas as a case study because the city of mcallen is diet for number 14 of
all cities in the united states for urban heat island.
what season a urban heat island. The effect of the city and
impermeable services that create a differences in temperatures of the surrounding vegetative area. One of the big things that
ranked mcallen so high the amount of impervious services.
and 7 higher than area with green spaces, can be measured.
people who live by parks and green spaces actually have the.
cooler temperatures than people in mcallen, one of the things I
discovered research from the brook s institute, mcallen the
lowest in the entire country as residents who have access to
parks. They live one mile or less from a park. And not by coincidence as
mcallen is those to exercise less regularly.
they are co-linear and all related. I would also like to add that I am not a native from mcallen
although both my kids are born here. I guess I qualify. But I came to mcallen for a job.
a job that is focused on higher education and on research.
and I think unemployment, as far as I know, is most associated
with education levels and not by coincidence that mcallen has one
of its lowest education levels in the country and those who have the highest employment rates have the highest education
levels. So maybe there was a diff-- a
different connection make for jobs to the rio grande valley and the very little amount of green space that we have.
thank you. >> I greet new my language, the
long of this land right here where you stand, where you live.
this occupied land. Invaded this land.
segmenting it. Tutting it so I believe that the
cement prairies that we call the cities. And I am a native of this land here first generation away from
the rio grande. And I haven't seen anything
about any kind of formation and anything done for the building
of this -- whatever you are trying to do with the -- to destroy more green spaces. If you want jobs, you haven't
even talked to this tribe yet. And we are on our way to get our
federal recognition and we can create those jobs without the
real offensive word. Think of the word, what it means. It is like you are prostituting
land, and that is not what this is about. This is important for us because this is our sacred land.
I can tell you where every village was. Every time I told you there was a village there.
I demand that you look at t the eiss and make those studies
so we can start looking at it. Also I suggest that you -- I
usually don't say this to anybody because I don't think it
is necessary, you should do you are in dna because you are probably part of this land. Some of your ancestors come --
one of the things that is happening right now right here. I think it is time that we as native people of texas the
american indian of texas to stand up what is happening here. I believe without a thought at all, our science was very good
because we didn't have climate change. We didn't have the heating of the area.
we didn't talk about infrastructure. Our infrastructure was the air, the water, the land and human
beings that were on it and included all the animals and I want to thank you for that. >>mayor villalobos: thank you.
raquel oleva. >> that you are, raquel oliva
newhouse drive and I'm here representing the landowners. We had a pro where everyone signed except for two vacant
lots. I have -- the protest that was -- that was written. Should I read it or just hand it
out or abbreviate or you don't care. >>mayor villalobos: you can hand it out. >> I will start and I will hand it out at the end if I don't
finish about. We the undersigned owners of the property in the reference file do protest against any change
land development code which will zone other than ao, agriculture
open district. The reason for the protests are, the city of mcallen designated the land as a park since the
champion golf course was established when ware road was extended to military drive. Served as an open space
recreational area since then. Disc golf course was added in
recent years. Chp has insufficient open space for recreational use. The land it a green space and
open to the public for nature walks and recreational activity at no cost. It also serving as a disc golf
course that attracts players from surrounding cities. Mcallen has insufficient green space.
the land is a fema flood zone and the rgv program qualifies it
as an ancient flood plane that from the rio grande river. During heavy rainstorms, the area prevents flooding in low
lying areas. In 2018, the entire land was
flooded and ware road was closed you too to flooding.
stormwater was inches from overflowing on newhouse drive which is on a ridge and mcallen needs to protect its citizens
from flooding. The site includes lake conception. That existed for hundreds of
years. And in 1971, an ancient barrier.
held water for most of the time and gone dry during the past two years because of the city. The western part is called
benson lakes. Mcallen needs to protect one of the few natural lake. The area attracts wildlife and a
top site for bird watchers. Herons, storks, gulls,
spoonbills and sights of the gray hawk. Mcallen needs to support the habitat that attracts wildlife
including birds and butterflies. The rezoning will impact the character of the neighborhood. It is a residential area with
single-family homes. Many of the homes are one-half to one-acre lots or greater. Commercial development will
bring increased noise and light pollution. New house drive is a for that row winding lane and cannot
handle large amounts of traffic. It has already caused increase
traffic. Runoff from post commercial and build with the lakes. Mcallen should protect its
unique neighborhoods. Ware road is a traffic corridor and handles any commercial traffic from military drive and
the express wayway. The proposed site of zoho
located between brown middle school and ideal academy.
adding an entrance may reduce traffic congestion on an already dangerous road. The city may be required to make
expensive improvement where ware road and the zoning facility is built on this site. The zoning change consistency on
spot zoning and devalues the surrounding. >> mayor, I want to be respectful, but that is three
minutes. >> I would like to say that nobody is against zoho. It is great.
economic development is wonderful. We need the job. What we don't want is a it to
say private, do not enter. We want access to this public space and we want to keep it. Thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you. >> hiloro mccleach.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor and city commissioners for allowing me
this time to speak. My name is laurel macleish and I
am a rer of mcallen, I am opposed to rezoning of this property. While I do support economic
development with everyone else in this room, I have questions as to why this specific property needs to be the property
developed. While this company has told us what it is going to do or what it is planning to do, once they
have the property, it doesn't mean that is what they will continue to do. We need to think about that.
they could change their mind at any time.
and basically what will happen is that they will destroy the natural habitat. It will have already been
destroyed. Even with this company. If they don't do what they say they are going to do.
there are other spaces that could be used for development.
but this is the only space that has all at tributes that this
property has. No one here is saying we don't want zoho, but what we are saying is, not on this property.
I ask that the city commissioners support the decision of the planning and zoning board.
thank you [applause] >>mayor villalobos: thank you. Will luna. -- mr. Luna.
>> I will approach this a little different. I have been playing disc golf. I am for zoho, just not in this
location. If you like the narrative we will have none of these jobs or resources are coming which I
believe is not the truth. I know at the beginning we
stated -- you stated they were facts misinformed and misinterpreted. I have a couple with a quick
google search can be confirmed. Mcallen metro area has one of the highest rates of diabetes and obesity in the nation, not
in the state, in the nation. Just the fact that y'all are telling us you know what is better for us, taking away a
park is very concerning to that. And then also, I want to talk
about green space. I know people are talking of the more important issues and the flooding and the effects.
I wants to dog of green j, the course.
anybody who has been pla playing disc golf from a
veteran. This is a gem of a course. Wednesday, I am going to a tournament in houston. One of my fellow golfers, right here behind me, just came back
from one in monterey. This weekend another group are
going. Everything know that green j is a special course. It is not any course that you
can just build. It is not a daffodil course. It is not a course in memorial or edinburgh.
another number that was misinterpreted you quoted from the pbj. You say 11 courses are here in
the rio grande valley. That is complete lie. Not 11 courses. I was here with one course.
freddie gonzalez. Then daffodil was one and now we have seven courses in the whole valley.
four of those are nine-hole courses. If you take away green j, we will go to brownsville and
harlingen just to play. For you folks I know there is a lot more at stake than the course. But I beg you to please give a little thought of the agenda you
are taking away that could stay and also have your side of the agenda met as well, which is local.
I want. To say we are not against zoho.
I don't speak for every single golfer but most of them.
wither not against zoho, we are just very, very against that
location. Thank you very much. [applause] >>mayor villalobos: johosa.
>> for a record, I can provide you a copy of what I quoted.
>>mayor villalobos: mr. J joe hihosa.
>> good afternoon, mayor, commissioners, mr. City manager.
I am a leader with virgina valley faith and a resident of mcallen. We are not here to change your
recommendations. I am pretty sure you have made up your minds what you are going to be doing here.
we wanted to you to listen top what we have been doing and what
we have been hearing from the citizens of mcallen. You will hear two other leaders from value vis interfaith from
balboa and the flooding concerns we have. City manager rodriguez talked in 2018.
it was not planned to do anything in south mcallen until
valley interfaith got involved and started the drainage over there. We worked with the county in
2018 in the county areas to alleviate some of the drainage over florida. We have no idea what is going to
happen if this is built. The second most important thing that we have got to talk about is the tract.
ware road is a state highway. I don't know if mcallen has the option to do anything with it. All the traffic that is going
through there right now in the mornings and afternoon are really bad. Commissioner castillo knows
that. He lives in the area. Do you have any answer to that? Have anything been looked at?
I guess not. You tell me. Or you can reply, I am not sure. We have -- we are not opposed
to zoho. As valley interfaith we worked over 25 years for economic development and we brought one
of the most important projects in the country for work force development here in mcallen and the county.
and we changed over 3,000, 4,000 lives not opposed to development
and drain all the people through our workforce project. We want to know not here in this specific area. The other question that we have is, we worked against house bill
5 that will -- that will give companies, corporations, 75% tax
abatesment to the school districts. How much tax abate will you give z shgzho.
will had you be selling the land to them or give it to them. Give it on fair market value? Questions we are asking and
apparently again we can't get an answer.
that is something we may talk about leader. >> we will give you a copy of that transaction when it is
done. >> it won't be too late -- dl be after you make up the decision. >> we will give you a copy of
the transaction. >> thank you. Again, I don't think you will find one person here
against zoho. We want that kind of business here. But not specifically there.
so many other options. Thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you, sir.
garza. Can you say where you are from. Because I don't think we have been.
rolando garza. >> yes.
sorry. How are y'all doing. Thank you for having me. I am rolando garza.
I am an archaeologist. I was born here and I grew up in brownsville. I still have a lot of family
here, but today I want to speak for the archaeological record.
that body of water, lake conception is very important to
this region's cultural heritage, prehistoric community.
a lot of people don't know of archaeology. They think we are dinosaurs, we are not.
we study past human culture by the material remains.
here in the rio grande delta covered by meters upon meters of
sediment. We have three manifestation of periods -- cultural periods all based on the archaeology that is
left. In this area, not a lot
survived, mainly stone. We don't see natural stones, so shale tools. We have stone artifacts but
limited. The paleo period which is 12,000 years ago to 8,000 years before the present.
the archaic period which is about 68,000 to 12,000 -- yeah, sorry, 8,000 top about 1200 years ago before the present.
and the lake historic which is 1200 to contact -- I say
contact. Contact with this region not when cortez landed in mexico. But what we are talking about right now, what is close to the surface is a late prehistoric
period. It is unique. It is also one of the most understudied regions in texas.
because we don't have a lot of -- not a lot of big federal
projects have come through and the other thing I would like to
ask. Is fema giving you a permit, 106
of the national historic preservation act that natural resource also have to be dealt with.
and as was mentioned before in 1969, the publication came out
in 1971, a barrel was found in that area. That is how I got involved in it.
one of my old professors had published that paper there. We were having trouble actually getting -- because the data --
difference in data, but on the adjacent property.
and at map toward the end of the page -- let me go back. Three distinct features that -- that separate the brownsville
complex from everywhere else. There was no stone. That is what -- that was their resource.
that was it. There was evidence of trade with meso america. They used the shell ornaments.
shell ornaments for trade. And ceramics unusual for hunters
and gatherers. The thing distinct cemetery
sites which is very unusual for hunter and gatherers.
a paper published in 1947 based on the site and the other work
in cameron county, they determined and they called --
that is when the brownsville are labeled. The cemetery sites are occurring on the north side of the royal
colorado down here where it comes off of the river all the way to the la guna. >> I don't mean to interrupt,
but that is three minutes. >>mayor villalobos: your time is up. >>city manager rodriguez: your
time has passed. >> I left the sheet. I have a few more. But people's ancestors.
our ancestors. Like florida aguiree said at the
beginning. We need to know where we came from, because that's who we are. >>mayor villalobos: thank you.
>> very we called mr. J joe hinjosa yet?
vilareal from mcallen. >> buenos tardes.
. [applause]
>>mayor villalobos: mr. Wayne johnson.
change it up again. >> good evening, honorable major, city manager and commissioners.
my name is wayne johnson. I have been a resident for about
18 years. And I feel like we are very fortunate that zoho is interested in and desires to
expand in mcallen the proposals for this site as we talked about
is very similar what they have done in the outskirts of austin. I think the land is rather unusual land for commercial
development, and yet zoho has expressed interest in this land,
and I think it is because they are not really your average company that is going to put down cement and put up -- they
want to increase the natural plants and plant gardens and
part of their corporate culture that is important to them hand
this land that is special has special concerns for them.
the buildings they want to do are design in an environmentally
friendly manner. They want to include solar power, rain water retention. Using aesthetic architect.
I am a retired plant manager. I moved and transferred to mcallen. And our family was transferred
to mcallen through the corporation that I worked with. We have a 20-year-old son. And we have a teenaged daughter
who soon will be entering the stage of their lives where they
are looking for a professional career and work and as other
have commented here, frankly mcallen lacks tech employment
outside of medical field or higher education. And as people have commented too frequently, people are finding
themselves relocating out side of the area looking for a
professional career opportunities elsewhere. Zoho will increase our city's tax base.
they will create high-paying professional jobs which will
benefit the citizens of mcallen. I hope zoho's leadership will
make mcallen more visible to other technological-based
companies as they might consider expanding and coming to our area. I urge you this vote in favor of
this zoning request. Thank you very much. >>mayor villalobos: thank you. .
[applause] mr. Daniel silva.
>> good afternoon, mayor villalobos, city commissioners and city manager. Snipe name is daniel silva, the
president of the rio grande valley partnership. I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak.
civic engagement is important. We will hear comments from both sides. We heard quite a few and very
good on both sides. Our job to bring to you our positions. And your job to decide what is
best for the city. Today, I am going to come, I come to talk to you and take a couple of your minutes and
provide my points from a regional view as well as my
points from nearly 20 years as an economic developer.
the regional goals as we have seen more so in the paper is to come together to try to put ourselves on the map and try to
-- try to compete on a national level. And in 2004, I graduateded from university of texas with
computer information assistance degree. And I ended up in economic development, and in the city's
economic, started to have programs because we saw a need. Needed to create high-paying technology-based jobs.
on the regional level, we have a goal of -- of advancing the region. And competing at the national
level. We want high paying jobs and increased quality of life for our entire region.
and we also need to increase our focus on technology. As you know a lot of our jobs are headed that direction.
in mission, we worked for over a decade to try to create programs
to increase the awareness, increase the knowledge base for
technology for computer-related occupations.
we worked with four-year colleges and community colleges and created programs and created a workforce created individuals
who work in jobs like this and a lot of them left. My fear is that if we say no, we will set ourselves back for
decades. People may not believe that, but when somebody looks and says why is didn't zoho go to mcallen,
they will look back and see the decision that were made. I was vacationing in another state, a couple of states away,
and my waiter told me, it was at -- said there was a egg and I
ran poorly and corporate tried to take it over and didn't succeed. If someone talks about it at a
waiter level, I guarantee such a competitive market, the
technology company will pass up the valley. In mission, we conducteded a charettes for a master plan
community. A charettes is what we are doing here on a larger scale. We brought in individuals from different sectors. We brought in high school
students. We brought in the soccer moms. We brought in the young professionals.
when we brought in the young individuals, schedule them, what is it that you want to see and what you want to see in your
community. They wanted high paying -- they
wanted high caliber jobs. They wanted to say here I sit on the state board for science and engineering fair.
125,000 that made it to the state level came from the
valley. A good portion from brownsville. If we want to keep kids here, we need to have opportunities like
this. >>mayor villalobos: blanca
cald calderon.
>> good evening, mayor and commissioners.
I handed out some of the folders. In front of you you have 600 signatures of residents and
voterses that live in the south a area, which I am a part of. And here we are just wanting to
let you know that our biggest concern is the flooding.
and in the folder also you will see some pictures.
and I would like for you to see those. It is very hard to live in that area when it is -- when it is
raining because we become prisoners of our own home. It is -- it takes two to three days for flood fog go away.
and building this area that we are all speak of, even if you
build it higher and you -- you don't consider that the rain
water will come back and it has nowhere to go.
currently, the 96 acres holds much of the rain water currently
right now. So where will it go? Where will you put this water? The drainage is not good in
south pecan area. I am not from mcallen
originally. I moved here from los angeles about 30 years ago. When ware road ended at the golf
course area. I have seen a lot of girls. I have seen a lot of growth in mcallen.
and I am proud to be a regulars dent of mcallen.
I can going back anywhere where I want. But this is where I have chosen to have my home.
and our concern is just the flooding.
and if you could consider that. Because it is a bad area. In this aspect. Thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you so much.
jeff alger, 2201 south benson road a quarter of a mile from
the property being rezoned. I guess tonight I feel like my
job is to represent the park since no one else is really
doing that. Everyone who is affect is an individual and everybody who is affected is a citizen of
mcallen. It affects me personally. And affects all these people personally. And I think that is what you guys are missing.
it doesn't affect any of you personally. You looking at jobs and big picture, but are you telling me
if you locate zoho in that particular place, it is -- you are not going to get any jobs at all?
you are going to lose zoho completely? I don't believe that. I think you can find another
place that is good for them. Besides that place that affects
so many people on a personal level, okay. I want to do a little bit of research.
I wish I had more time l like roel. And I wish I could take you out to dinner like you did w
with zoho, but I can't.
and in my research I -- as -- as they mentioned this lake
conception goes back in millennia. History goes back in millennia. 3,000 years and more.
that has been there. The connection to mcallen itself goes back to early 20th century. When mcallen was first rounded.
founders going out to lake conception for religious
gatherings, sewing gallers. Picnics and all kind of things that continued on from the mid 20th century until it went into
private hands. In 1968, the city of mcallen brought 238 acres for the palm view golf course for public
purposes. That existed until 1959 when
ware road cut through and went to military highway.
property went into limbo until 2015. Ten years, I was working -- pushing to make that property
into a park because I was so familiar with that property.
I knew it had a lake on it. I know it has rolling hills and lot of trees and a completely unique piece of property in the
city of mcallen. Something else like it. That is why zoho wants it. Turn a public accessible park that has a tradition of public service for recreation and you
want to give it to a company, a private company that is going to turn it into a private park for their private consumption.
that is ridiculous. And I can -- I don't think any
of you -- you can correct me if you are wrong. Have any of you ever been out there?
been to the park or been there before it was a park? This -- I mean, there is a lot of history to it.
and I wish. I think -- knowing the history, it makes you appreciate the property.
okay. And -- >> thank you, your time has expired. >> I am sorry. I wish I have more time.
if you would like to talk to me fill in -- I can write a book on the property. >>mayor villalobos: thank you
so much. [applause]
>>mayor villalobos: margaret graham, mcallen.
>> good evening. I have some maps for you that I would like to distribute at the end if you may.
and take it over here if you can pass it down. My name is margaret graham and I live with my family in mcallen
district one and professor of anthropology on rgv.
I am going to focus the negative impacts the project will have on our cultural, historical and geological heritage.
I think the framing of our discussion tonight of pro zoho,
anti- zoho is problematicic and incorrect.
okay. I think that as many of my
colleagues have said before me, that I think we are all pro-zoho, pro development, we are pro jobs.
we are pro all of those things. But with community leader and
anthropologists. I am distressed that the last
remaining and terrace will be destroyed by the development process. Our poorly underseafood regional
landscape has been shaped by natural resource over millennia,
hills, dips and what you see on the parcels were created by the
rio grande many channels and part of our geological history and geo heritage. Our river bluffs by hunters and
gatherers used resources for food living in higher areas
outside county threat as mr. Garza has talked about. The two parcels up for rezoning are the city's last remnants of
our deep history and should be something the city wants to preserve, protect and enhance. The chaps program at u of
it willrgv have a new community-based project of
ancient landscapes of south texas hiding in plain site
sight. These are the maps I have for you. Seeks to identify and increase awareness of the natural historical landscapes of the
entire south texas league region. These two parcels are a perfect example of our ancient landscape
in mcallen and they are indeed right before our eyes. They will be destroyed soon and forever by bulldozers and other
human actions when the landscape renovation make this flood zone
safe for habitation. Many prehistoric and historic
sites have been lost through overdevelopment in recent years.
ancient beaches and volcanic ash deposits in rio grande city,
petrified forest in hidalgo county to name a few including this one. They have been working years for
a eco tourism of beautiful, natural and cultural and
historic resources. This location should be part of
the effort and preserved and revitalized and not destroyed.
the planning and rezoning and destruction of this landscape in
a flood zone seems like a very odd move. Makes no sense when there are other parcels available.
why this space. The loss will be permanent. No going back and I believe we can do better.
thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you.
>> thank you. Thank you, mayor and city commissioners and mr. Rodriguez. My name is jose lopez and I have
lived in south mcallen for the past 28 years.
I am a member of diego catholic church.
a member of faith and I'm here representing valley interfaith.
we welcome zoho to expand. Mcallen and we look forward to
more job opportunities for our young people.
we would like to help young adults from a community to work
with for you. But for the new -- we are
against the proposed location for the new office because and
to a private workplace. Flooding problems we have in
mcallen for the past 50 years. You would you increase heavy
traffic and drug traffic. We -- we have a -- in 2019.
we had a lot of rain. One of my grandkids was --
because we could not -- we could not leave the house.
got water in the houses which they have -- they have to
repair. They have prepared -- supported two -- two hidalgo and parking lot on 20 acres of grassy park
through the rain. As for traffic, I am an expert
and traffic. In early morning. 7, rl 8:00 in the morning, cars come from the north.
in the afternoon, the same thing.
the traffic is -- gets very congested.
so -- so what we are going -- what we are expecting to have.
I have seen traffic for -- for -- thank you very much mayor
mayor thank you so much. Laprosa fromrosa fro rosa from
>> I am la rosa from san juan. I was born in san juan and
raised in california for about 20 years or so. I have been a san juan resident for the last 11 years.
and I have been playing disc golf since I have been here.
my uncles invited me to p play disc golf in san juan and
that's where I got hooked. We started playing disc golf and
we built a park in mcallen, daffodil park.
it was great. We came up with green jay park. That park is awesome. There is no park close to it.
there is no park that you can build another one and close
with, this is a gem. You have long technical holes.
we have a lot of water holes, and just -- I mean everything
you need for disc golf in a park, that was it.
we have a lot of nine hole courses. But a eight-hole championship course.
we have been running tournaments there for the past since I have
known, eight, nine years and tournaments at this park. And it brings people from everywhere.
we have people coming from out of state, out of town. I mean, just -- you name it, they come and play this park.
as soon as they get off the airplane and they are a disc
golfer, this is one of the first place they go to because this is the only that one has this type of level of play.
I just really want you guys to think about what you are doing.
and just hopefully we can keep this park going.
maybe put water back in there. Rest rooms. Things like that. Thank you, guys.
>> good evening, commissioners planned mayor. My name is jim chapman. I live in west laco, not
mcallen, and I have experience that hopefully will be useful for to consider before you make your decision.
I have been involved both with nonprofit organizations and with
the u.s. Fish and wildlife service in revegetation,
reforestation efforts going back to the 1980s that was done and
still being done to try to reverse the relentless clearing of our very diminished natural habitat which was estimated for
hidalgo county to be at about 5%.
revegetation, reforestation is very difficult, laborous and
expensive work. From -- from the collecting of seeds to growing plants to planting them and to keeping
them going until they get established, it is -- it is
huge. Most revegetation efforts concentrate on 15 to 20 species, if you take -- if you look at an
acre of native brush, it has hundreds of species.
when zoho talks of fruit trees and garden and ecology, you will
not creating natural habitat. You won't create what you lose when you clear. Somebody -- many years ago --
maybe higher now -- estimated what would it cost to restore an
acre of brush? And the estimate many years ago
was it would probably take -- if you could ever do it, if you could ever find the seed for hundreds of species and grow
them and plant them, it will probably cost $40,000 an acre
and would take 40 years. So before you make your decision, really, to -- to do in green jay park or not.
and I hope that you don't, consider what -- what you would be losing. And you really can't get that
back. You can't re-create native habitat. Fruit trees, gardens, those are
good things. But you are going to be losing much, much more than that. Green jay park.
of course has a lot of grass -- grass habitat and your typical
early succession species like mesquite.
it also on the edges and when you get further back you get
thick brush and you get that incredible diversity and that
atranths and keeps -- attracts and keeps the birds and very
little wildlife. Mcallen has little of that left and you need to promote and protect the very little that you
have. Zoho can do their good work elsewhere. Thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you so much.
>> hello, commissioners. My name is marlon duran.
I am a remember of the rbg green party and the democratic
socialist of america. I lived in mcallen the majority of my life. I don't like how no one opposed
to this park -- I mean opposed to the tearing down of the park
was allow to speak until an hour into the meeting. And we -- you all talk about jobs and jobs and economic
devel development. But, you know, companies coming here don't bring jobs.
what brings jobs is high paying jobs with an equitable
distribution of wealth. I remember when my grandpa -- when my mom was a kid, my grandpa was a mechanic for
pontiac with just a high school degree and able to afford a big house, two cars, vacations, health insurance.
I am sure some of the older people here remember when only
one person working without a college degree was enough.
and that was because we had strong labor unions who fought for people to have good paying jobs.
and you know, we talk economic development, but these -- these
big corporations coming here is not going to give us economic development. If anything, they are going to
push away people who lived here for a very long time through
gentrification. So I urge you all to oppose the
tearing down of green jay park. We need to -- as mr. Chapman
said and the tribal chairman said, we need to preserve this land -- sacred land to the indigenous people, its native
habitat, and there are other ways to have economic development than sacrificing this beautiful piece of land.
thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. We have liz barbon, mcallen.
liz barbon, mcallen. Oh, there you are.
>> hello, liz barben. I am in mcallen.
I live on newhouse drive. I have two houses right on
newhouse on the corner. I talk to almost majority of our neighbors and we are -- a lot of us -- actually I haven't talked
to one that has not wanted zoho to come back in that piccolo
occasion. I mean we really don't mind zoho
coming in. We are very excited. I have three kids. Probably when they come in, we will enroll them in their activities for the kids.
they love coding and stuff like that. So zoho, yes. Location, no.
I am very concerned with the flooding.
and I commented this on the previous town hall meeting and everything. When very the 2018 flood, my
kids, we went out in the rain and we went to go explore. We sought huge ocean that was there.
my child walked into it, and he was at about three feet high in the water. And I told him stop, no, I had
videos of that. I also have video of kids on -- people on jet skis on ware road. It is very concerning where will
that water go. I am concerned they are going to build and water is coming to my house and my neighbors.
another concern I have is mcallen is one of the fattest cities in the country. And I saw a youtuber interview
you, mr. Mayor, so you are aware of this. We need parks. And yes, we have quinta
mazatlan. We have the state park. They close at 5:00. After 5:00 is when people want
to go out and walk. It is cooler. Where can we go? Not places that are free for
people to go and walk and enjoy the nature, birds, everything around us. So I would really please
strongly consider keeping this park. Because we need this for our community. I see in the mornings a lot of people walking around.
in the evening, people walking around. It is a very nice place to walk, explore.
my kids and I go there. We get picnics. We used to go by the lake, but somehow the water is not there
anymore in that spot. We really need that park for the
community. We need water. We have birds all the time. That is what I wanted to say.
thank you so much. >>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. Juan inmecias.
>> he already spoke. >>mayor villalobos: thank you. Louis florez, mission. Jose florez from mission.
3516 west jonquil. Mcallen.
>> good evening, gentlemen. As he sated, I lived here for
the first 23 years of my life. I had family that worked with
the mcallen chamber of commerce and the city. Growing up here and our programs with elementary, keep mcallen
beautiful. I always thought that mcallen would stay that way. Whenever I left, I didn't need
because I neededed a high paying job. I left because -- it is the culture down here in the county,
the rgv. Almost a rite of passage. They want to get away a little bit.
higher education. I got a high paying job in san antonio. I left that area, came back,
because of family, and I always wanted to live in mcallen.
and the problem with guiltying a high paying job here in mcallen
it seems like -- anywhere in the valley, the pay rates. Not jobs being available. Plenty available and the pay
rates. Why are we expecting one company to address that issue. We need more companies to step
up and carry their part for the city. For the area. Another thing I would like to
touch on what has been said. Everybody wants zoho here. That is great. That is awesome.
the city obviously is going to give up a lot and give them a lot of leeway, possible tax breaks and everything to get
them here. That is awesome. It is needed. But why not ask them to step up and possibly develop and put this beautiful green space that
they are talking about in an area that is not green at all. Why tear down part of one that is already existing.
it just doesn't make sense. [applause]
so, in closing, I would like to he will you about, like, a small thing that happened to me personally growing up.
when I moved away. Got a high-paying job.
I saw nationwide. A beautiful green space in san
antonio. And it was completed in 2011. I ended up being employed there. And they did put this green
space there. Wasn't available to the public. Only available to employees. Come to 2021, that space is
noting used by them anymore. They realized we can do work from home. We can work -- you know, get a
new space in a different city for cheaper. Hand this building is just sitting there.
and what san antonio can't do anything with it. Is there going to be any kind of safeguards or contracts to put
and hold zoho accountable and it will be an eyesore if they are
done tearing it up. I am curious. I would really like to know. In ending, I am proud to be with
mcallen. Sorry if it sounds like -- I am nervous as heck. But have a great night.
thank you so much for hearing us.
marco deana. >> I'm here and just to say
pretty watch I see. Everyone is here for environment for the history of that piece of land.
zoh soshgz looking for a piece of land to build something here. You have to look at the numbers. How many jobs will they bring.
500, $1,000? How many citizens in mcallen.
144,000. Not even a percent. Other cities around and all that. Are you going to give up something that took decades,
hundreds of years to grow, to build for something that can literally said somewhere in -- in concrete.
so that makes me think about the conversation this was -- that was had with this company, with the city.
they could have easily said we gave you a spot that you couldn't give. Let's give you this one over
here. Zoho would be, okay, cool. We understand. All that stuff to help you out.
they could say screw that, you gave us a good -- you want it.
hold on to the deal. Somebody played a deal with something that wasn't meant to be given. So that is another thing here. That is not being addressed.
why is it not that easy to just say, we screwed up.
let's go over here. Let's move on. Let's get past this and start the development. And also I used to work construction will.
I worked in austin. I built sky rises.
from sweeping the trash to build the laser to build the walls, to build them. And take them off.
mcallen needs to build up. Their skyscrapers here already. They need to build up. You have concrete to do it.
you need a perimeter. Not that big. I have seen the map of mcallen. Another map I have seen, is that
golf course is green. Very green compared to the rest of the area. And nothing the facts of the
golf course. A lot of money to upkeep that, making people to spend money to go to.
same thing with this campus. You will have people spend money
just to be there. You can have it but to use it, you have to you give us money. What about the people who don't
have money or can't afford to be money. Somebody needs to be outside in nature space because they have
the mental health that is not well and they want to be there.
guess what, will cost them $20, $10d every day.
they will go there for the peace of mind and go bankrupt.
don't build a city that looks like a prison because you get out of work and go to prison. Don't build synthetic green
spaces what you find in prisons and schools. You will drive people insane and kill themselves literally.
I left innovation. I went to see what it was and to bring back. That is what I brought up.
they are building up. They are keeping their green spaces. Mental health is a big issue.
jobs -- they pay you more out there. They go out there, get money and bring it back.
construction -- half of them are not from the united states. They bring money back. Why? Because they pay them more. Have people over here paying
more. Stop giving them tax breaks. If anything, make them -- the taxes that are supposed to be
paying used on the city. A lot of this I think so that can be done. A lot of better ways to do it.
the lack of effort I am seeing and lack of innovation and wanting to try to do it. Try.
that's all I want to say. I saw my timer went off. A better way to do it. We can always do it better.
you just go got to do it and stoop being afraid.
if you say you screwed up, I messed up. And everyone involved will appreciate that way better.
those really want help, will help. Those who don't, will show your colors.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you, sir.
we have blanca calderon, mcallen.
>> already spoke. >>mayor villalobos: okay.
>> mayor, commissioners. Citicity manager.
thank you for the opportunity to speak here.
pecks candidate for mcallen district 4.
I just want to say I am opposed to this project.
I will bring in a political perspective here. I will be very kind. Very respectful.
commissioner rudy, I want to remind you that you are here to represent your constituents. When you say -- when you said I
want to run. You are saying I want to represent you, the citizens. This is an american form of
government. You live in an american democracy. Representative democracy.
I want to thank the tribe's person and the professors.
highly educated professors who spoke on the history of the
location. Guys, this is like hollywood.
this is like a horror movie. We have a big bad company moving
in and trying to build on a graveyard, on a burial site. This is a classic hollywood horror movie.
this is reality, guys. It's interesting to see that a lot of people who were for it do not live in my district.
you are not from district 4. And just to close, just from a
political perspective, and being very respectful here, commissioner castillo, de la vaca, villalobos, mayor, city
commissioner rodriguez and commissioner aguirre.
now he how difficult election it is. Rudy, you know how difficult. When you vote today, your con
stitch went also know how you voted .think about that. Look at zoho. Are you going to risk your
political career for that company. Think of this before you vote. This is reality, guys.
this is reality. Thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: I do need to throw something in. Whenever we make our decisions generally never based on build
we are going to be reelected or not. Generally at least I know this is what this commission does and
look at the facts and circumstances of everything and analyze and set forth and tries to make the best decision that
we can make regardless of political influences. Okay. We have adrian vilareal.
>> I guess it is -- good evening. Mayor and commission. You know, in my view, what
really makes a successful community is a community that provides opportunity for good paying jobs and for quality
jobs. And I think today that is even more important because everything is really expensive.
and by providing good, quality jobs, what we are seeing is that
somebody doesn't have to work two jobs just to make ends meet, because that is the reality right now.
is that people are having to work hard just to provide for their families. City of mcallen always made the
tough decisions. That is why we are the north star of south texas. When it came to promoting
retail, when it came to supporting the makila business. When it came to taking advantage of napta.
when at that came to benefiting and supporting the growth of our colleges, the merging of to our university, and he beginning of
the medical school. Game-changing supportive initiatives that this commission took and impacted in a very
positive way this community. I think one of the results we have seen from those decisions have been the investment made in
the medical sector. And today, the medical sector
employs more people than anybody else in the city of mcallen. Because of the decisions we make.
we can't ignore the things that judge cortez said earlier,
today, our current per capita income is 20% lower than the
national average. 19% of families with children who still live in poverty. We have a very young work force
compared to the state and the nation. And we have a growing population.
we need to make sure that we can continue to invest in the future to provide quality jobs. One way to do that is to try to
bring tech down here. Very difficult. Because of very, very highly competitive industry that every
community wants to attract. What zoho does, they give us a
lane. They want to be partners. They want to grow with the city of mcallen.
they are gig to give us high paying quality jobs so people can take care of their families. And they are going to mult flewy
ply. Tech multiplies. And it lasts and grows and grows and grows.
so there is a ripple effect there. And that is why this decision is so important.
it is important to provide quality, high paying jobs so
that people can take care of their families and to grow and
provide opportunity to future generations. It is a game changer. It is a game changer.
and for all that, that is why I urge you to you support this --
this zoning change. Thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you, sir.
we have miss carol brown of mcallen.
>> good evening the basis of my objection to the proposed
rezoning of both of these properties is as follows: the park and green space are a part of the plan set forth in mcallen
parks and recreation and open space master plan. And they both address the needs of the community.
green jay park is a park. And both properties lie in the
protected south mcallen green belt shown in forsythe mcallen and again in the version of envision mcallen 2040 that the
commissioners approved may 22. The mcallen parks and recreation
open space master plan there. In the executive summary.
one of the goals is -- if you look down where the red arrow
is, protect and sustain value nature area, environmental features and historic and cultural resources.
can can you imagine a city park in does that benner than green
jay park? Look at that again. Value nature areas, environmental features, and
historic and cultural resources. That is green jay park.
page 2. In the park inventory, the romp
states the city also owns drainage areas that are maintained by the city. Several of these, are park
facilities and the remainder could be used for park facilities. Based on the national parks and
recreation standards, the city of mcallen will have a total park deficit by the year 2025 of 881 acres of parks.
that is not from anyone else but parks and rec of the city.
the largest deficit being in community parks. Community parks generally five to eight acres in size.
so let's see -- master plan recommendations. The two red arrows. The city needs to acquire land
in the far north and south exceptions of town before the
land is gone. And we will give it away. Even if it is not developed now. If land is not purchased now, it
will not be available in the future.
and we are giving ours away. The city needs to acquire some large tracts of land, 20 to 50 acres, exactly what this is for
future park development. Next page. It is a park. I don't need to belabor that
part. If you look at all the city documents, it is a park. Fourth page says the same thing.
now, the interesting part on page five.
envision mcallen 2040. Both green jay park and the
south mcallen green belt remain unmarred by development in
envision mcallen 2040. In both versions of it. Last page, there are two versions of envision 2040.
you voted on one that does not have an employment center in it.
may 10, it was not there. I am on page 6. Then suddenly on july 15 -- yeah, july 15, there was
suddenly an employment center there.
the public did not see that and that is not the version you voted on. Therefore this is spot zoning.
y'all may be disappointed but we only have ten more speakers.
tracydedmond from harlingen. >> good evening, mayor,
commissioners. Tracy dedmond and I live in
harlingen, texas. What I know about high paying jobs. 11 years ago I had two employees
and my company has grow en in the rgv. 100% I have employees from the rgv.
I manage over $1.7 billion of as sets in the rgv, out of the
60,000 employees, they average $90,000 a year. They all live here. They are all from here.
that was one of the tax abatement agreements that I had when we came here. Now I produce over 1 gigawatt of
power, wind power in the valley. So in 2017, when my son came to
me and said I just got accepted to ut rgv, first class, I think
it was. The very first class when they renamed it to in /* ut rgv. I was excited and anticipates
track star in the high school. The very next year, he said I am
not going to college. I said what are you going to do? He said I will be a professional disc golfer.
he started playing disc every weekend. Had a job during the week. Stayed with a friend of his who
put him up in his guest house. In 2018, he was the pgga person
of the year. His name is mason ford. You can look him up as well. 2021 won the first tour event in
nashville, tennessee, music city open.
three top ten finishes in the disc tour. Tied for fifth at the pga major, the championship cup in georgia.
he is a very great athlete that attributes his success from the pamture ranks to the professional ranks to green jay.
what -- what you have here what you have here in your city is
the only championship disc golf course anywhere south of
ingleside texas. The only one with technical water holes, yard bomb. Wind.
good lord we have wind. The only one like it. I know you say 11 in the valley. There is seven.
miscommunication. They visit them. And you will see not a disk golf course in several of those
areas. Also this is only the third -- only three 18-hole disc golf courses in the have ale leave.
one being in brownsville, not being technical. Dixieland in harlingen, my home course, not very technical and
this one. I had the pleasure of playing with my son and his wife who is a top ten player in the world.
my son is ranked 29th in the world. And I had the pleasure of talking with him yesterday.
he said I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for green jay park.
if you put money in baseball fields, football fields, softball, pickleball, tennis courts.
the second highest growing sports in the u.s. It is a real sport. Kids can do it.
families can do it together. Adults -- myself, I do it all the time now and it keeps me in shape.
think about it for a minute. Not only that, ask zoho --
>> mayor, I don't mean to inte
interrupt, but that is time. >>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. We will have jose lewises
florez, mission. Florez, mission.
going once. Going twice.
daniel brook, mcallen. >> hello, mayor, city
councilmembers. Any name is daniel brook. I own a business disc golf store here on main street.
I'm here to speak of the disc golf park. Several reasons to keep this park and not rezone.
one of the most important to me is health benefits. Some others include inclusiveness, fellowship and
what disc golf gives back to the community. We think of health benefits. The first thing that comes to
mind is exercise. According a study by wallet hub,
highest amount of obese, 49.2%. Two times higher than the lowest
number in the u.s., a number you should be looking to reduce.
2.4 times higher than the lowest percent. With over 8,000 feet of course to walk, you can get your steps
in while enjoying a round o of disc golf.
mental health benefits. If you play disk golf
consistently you will find you more creative, stronger, healthier and happy. One thing about disc golf of it
gets you closer to nature at the mcallen golf park.
your stress and anxiety levels will go down. You will able to sleep better because of the the reduced
stress. Exercising outdoors is a great mood booster. Playing in nature inspires
creativity. When talking of mental wellness,
socialize something one of the most important things to stay healthy and disc golf does this. Fellowship of disc golf I
is rivaled by one. I met my best friends and spends
more hours with my oldest friends. Take photos, hike, bird watch and play disc golf.
many travel together playing courses all over the state. We regularly go out to eat after playing and stop for a cold
beverage to stay out and talk. Inclusiveness is another one of the benefits of having a 18-goal dic golf.
you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars and need a disc that
cost a few dollars. Children under the age of five are playing competitively and tournaments for those over 70.
to meet the needs of everyone who tries out disc golf,
challenge themselves on an individual basis and a sensory and tactile experience with a series of goals that are
realistically achievable which is great for people on the
autism spectrum. A huge growth of the number of physical and mentally handicapped people playing disc
golf which is important in an area where one in five adults
have mentz according the valley legacy foundation. Giving back to the community is another part of disc golf and
the disc golf community. We work with nonprofits to raise
money. Host tournaments where proceeds can given to support if nonprofits.
we have pamper rounds to help expectant parents.
we work where with veterans giving veterans free entry. My personal favorite toy drives for toys for tots matching every
toy donate by disc golfers. Up wish I could finish.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you so much. >> thank you for your time and I hope I persuaded to you vote no
or forced your decision to vote no.
please vote no. >>mayor villalobos: ken vega.
ken vega. >> hello, mayor, commissioners.
ken vega, my father is daniel vega of pharr and I have
been a native for 30-plus years. Today I come before you not to present any facts or to, you know, argue against any
accusations that may have been made on this matter but simply to state my own personal problem with the matter at hand.
one county greatest blessings that I have in life is after a long day of work, I get to come home to my girls who have just
so happy to see me walk through the door. They still yell "daddy." I am sure many of you relate to
that. For those of how have older children that is something that doesn't last very long.
fades away over time. They start to get all these other ideas in their heads, things that just distract them.
and right now, my five-year-old daughter, josie, I took her out
one day to play disc golf she loved it so much.
every day when I come home, she is asking, daddy, we can play disc golf. So proud that my little girl is
interested in something that I love to do that I can enjoy there time with my own daughter to watch her grow and watch her
do something that she wants to do. I actually did talk to her about what is happening.
and though she is five years old, she doesn't grasp the full
concept of what goes on. It hurt her nonetheless.
she asked me if I could be here today to do something about it. She said, daddy, will you do something.
I am hoping that what I bring before you could help overturn
decision to have so some compassion. Think of the future kids of this city. It may not be that kids want to grasp technology.
my little girl is a very outdoorsy girl. I am glad that she is not the kid stuck in front of an ipad or
video game. She wants to get out there to experience life for what is out there, the birds, the wildlife
and plants. She loves mushrooms. She loves flowers. She loves all that sort of
thing. It breaks my heart five to go home and tell her I am sorry. But it's gone. I am asking you please, if you can just please have so
some compassion in your heart and car that my little girl is
asking, please. Don't get rid of this park.
thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: mr. Herscel patel.
>> good evening, mayor, city manager and commissioners.
I'm here to express my support of zoho in mcallen.
as vice-chairperson of the chamber of commerce. We support the growth of new industries especially those
paving the way for the future. As a resident of mcallen, I am excited about the potential business diversification
that zoho will bring directly and through the ancillary
companies that they will need. Being a mcallen hotel owner, I
eagerly anticipate the influx of business, tourists, relocating
family that a company of this magnitude will attract to our city. As a father with three children
all attending mcallen schools, I am excited of the prospect of
stem jobs that all cities across america are hungry for right now. Commissioner, it is also crucial
to recognize that neighboring towns are eagerly awaiting for us to falter, allowing them to seize the benefits of hosting a
company like zoho. At a time when every community
in america are struggling to attract future industries and jobs. We have a wonderful opportunity
within our grasp. Thank you, guys. >>mayor villalobos: thank you so much.
hernando oloja. >> hello, good evening.
I lived here 40-plus years. I -- my mother actually has a
house which is five minutes away from green jay park.
lives off of jordan and 29 and a half. So losing this park will be a really big loss and I don't want
to see that happen. I don't want to go on too further but I want this quote from the great dr. Ron paul. Governments have nothing. They can't create anything.
they never have. All they can do is steal from one group and give it another at the destruction of the
principles of freedom and we ought to challenge that concept. And that's what I am doing here. Please vote no on zoho.
thank you. >>mayor villalobos: thank you, sir.
miss gloria galindo. Gloria galindo.
>> hello. I am going to hand out the --
the stuff that I brought, the petition, signatures, etc., that
was asked to bring and copies to you all.
first first is the park. Second are the signatures, 300
signatures against. Here are some more signatures.
>> I am like a bag lady. Good afternoon, my name is
gloria galindo and I am a citizen of mcallen.
I'm here because I am a birder. I don't say that lightly. I will put on my glasses because I can't see without them.
my family and rebirders and naturalists.
and also citizen scientists. We have participated in hawk
count where we count migrating hawks at state park for over ten
years. You can find us on the cover of the state of texas park guide for the entire state of texas.
and we have been featured in a documentary called birders" by
netflix. My son was the american birding association young birder of the year for 2021.
the aba being the standard bearer of serious birding in
north america. And that honor being young
birder of the year is a national honor in a national competition. He worked have he closely with bill clark, world renowned and
leading hawk expert documenting rare breeding raptors in the rio grande valley. And up with of the sites he
documented and studied was green jay park.
he documented gray hawks in 2016. They are still there to this day with other rare hawks such as
the zone-tailed hawk and the gray hawk, and I am always
looking for that hook kite that I know one of these days will be
there. If it is still ours, we can still look there. The gray hawk found there is
only found in the rio grande valley. You have birders from all over the world, all over the country
who come here just to see that. So green jay park has over 126
species which I handed to you there. And it has countless animal species.
for the citizens to lose this park will be a great travesty.
the birder who come all over the u.s. And the world to marvel at the incredible birds that are found here.
it will be a great loss. For the city of mcallen, it will be an economic loss since eco tourism accounts for half a
billion dollars for our region. As we have said again and again, we welcome zoho. God, we need jobs.
I am an economics major and a previous business owner so I know all about jobs. Jobs are important.
we don't take anything away from them. In fact we welcome zoho are, but we don't want to lose your park
over it. What really happened here, the city of mcallen should never have presented the site as
available because it wasn't. It is a park used by the public.
the city should have presented another site. And another note, I would say that the zoning process is ft.
lauderdale. Only 14 notices went out about this park being rezoned. And it is a public place.
all the citizens should have been notified. And so that -- that -- that really makes me angry.
hand this needs to be addressed. >>mayor villalobos: thank you,
ma'am. Is there anybody here that wants
to -- that wishes to speak that failed to sign up?
please go ahead. >> ma'am, when you approach the
podium, give us your name and full address, please. >> all right, sir. Hi, my name is zola mejia, I
live in mcallen, jasmine court, 5105 on taylor road.
I was not expecting to speak today. As a matter of fact, I came here because someone from the mcallen
nature center asked me and my family to come because we have been birding for a long time. If I am being honest, I didn't
want to come. I was tired. And I was like, okay, I will just go and support.
but hearing this is something I care deeply about now. I realize -- I didn't realize what was going on, but this is
something I care deeply about. I am 15-year-old. Okay. You all are talking of jobs for
the young people. Here is a young person right now. And I am telling you, what we
need to do is protect our wildlife. And we need to protect areas that people utilize.
I am from the first all female bsa troop in the rio
grande valley. We use green jay park.
we use green jay park -- I don't have anything prepared to speak.
I wasn't prepared to speak here, but something I am passionate about. That's why I am speaking, okay.
we -- we use that park. That park is one of the reasons why our troop is so success self today.
we go out and we do outdoor activities as many have said
before. We are one of the most obese counties in america. Okay. We need places like that. Because -- because -- I am sorry
-- you know what is being built here? Ten different coffee shops. All that is being built.
why are you building other things when you can be preserving this land. There is so many other places
you can build. So en many places around where I live which is empty lots and just grass.
there is no wildlife. No habitat. No birds. I just see grass.
and so many different places you can be building in instance
stead -- instead of preserving, okay. You can be preserving a natural area.
and I don't see how you all don't see this. How so many people go out and use that place.
just because you all don't. This is affecting so many more
people than you think. And we can industrial that zoho
here while keeping green jay park as is.
as many people have said before, why can't they just go and build somewhere that doesn't have any green space?
why can't we have more wildlife? Why can't we build somewhere
that needs it instead of destroying a place and taking out that wildlife. You all don't understand how
many people come here for wildlife. I have been birding almost my whole life.
and I have met people who live in connecticut. Who live in kansas. They come down here.
you know what they see, green jays because the valley is the
only place to see green jay. I see them and a regular bird. They are lifers. A bird they will see only once
in a life and they come here specifically to see that bird. Why get rid of a park that has its namesake.
why get rid of a park so to the community to build something
that can be built anywhere else.
you care about young people. You are listening to one right now. Please take that into consideration. Thank you
[applause] >>mayor villalobos: mr.
josh mejia. >> honorable mayor, city
commission, thank you so much for providing me the opportunity to it be able to provide my public comment as a private
citizen but also as a representative of the mcallen chamber of commerce. It's always great to be able to
see this sort of civic engagement. I have been economic developer for the majority of my career
and I understand the hard work that is put in making sure that
we have these opportunities considered. I deeply understand the amount of energy and work that it takes
to be able to sit down where you are and to be able to listen.
one of the things that I am very blessed to have learned and very blessed to apply is that of inclusive practice, right, to be
able to understand and listen to a lot of the constituents
because we are at the front lines of a lot of the development, a lot of the decision making that takes place in our community. I have been to the town halls.
and I have seen and heard a lot of the commentary both in favor and not in favor of this opportunity that has been
brought forth, but I do want to highlight two things and highlight them as representative of the organization of the
mcallen chamber of commerce as well as a private citizen. One is that the tech company that is being considered for
this expansion opportunity is one that is setting a different standard in the industry. It is one that is coming here
not in suits and ties but is coming here as ordinary people,
being able to understand and being able to listen more than anything of what is being considered to they can align
themselves with the community. It is called integration. It is called being part of the equitable process.
the other thing that I noticed that I really commend the city of mcallen is the immense work that is done by the
administration to be able to do the exact same thing and to be able to listen and answer questions.
one of the concerns I have that heard sit down here have been addressed before. And we are still going to
continue to address them because this decision up for
consideration is one of many that are right for the city of
mcallen. As a representative of the mcallen chamber of commerce. We will advocate for for job
growth roar more economic activity and economic resiliency. No doubt that the city of
mcallen will grow. And growing pain also continue to happen not just today but tomorrow as well.
but, the good thing is that we have of the right mixture here with this one opportunity that we have, people that are
understanding of what equitable economic development is, what inclusive practices are, and I look forward to the immense
opportunity and the impact that we are going to have as you all consider this -- in great opportunity.
and us at the mcallen chamber of commerce wholeheartedly have you
consider this approval and us to continue this dialogue and step to make this growth happen, not tomorrow but today.
I appreciate the opportunity once more. And I thank each and every one of you.
>>mayor villalobos: thank you so much.
mr. Ephriam barajas. >> good evening.
I live balboa and where we are struggling the most is when we have the flooding. This flooding.
I didn't see any of these people out there walking the streets trying to help out.
that can handle six to eight to ten inches in six to ten hours.
no way. Every single city will have
their faults. Why? Simple, we live in a plain. It is a plain.
so it doesn't matter if you have the best drainage system in the world, if it gets six, eight, to ten inches, rain within six to
ten hours, you will get flooding. Believe me, you will. It doesn't matter. I never saw them out there. No.
when they blef the convention center by didn't see them coming
to the commissioners, the council. So much wildlife. I didn't see them.
they built a school on taylor road. How many wildlife we lost as well.
I didn't see any of them. But now, it is on their back
patio or because it is touching my personal feelings. My personal life. My personal activity.
no. Zoho I am not going to say is
the best in the world, but I saw the video. They are going to bring wild, native and wild plants and
trees. They will have -- they will work
with the community and believe me. Everyone needs to understand this, city elected officials in
mcallen will never -- will never put in jeopardy of any of its
citizens.
flooding when get so much rain. Not only that, remember, we live
in the upper valley. Just think san benito.
brownsville, los fresnos. They are lower and have more
problems. Mcallen has the best if infrastructure. City infrastructure.
east of san antonio. >> sir, be respectful.
>> you are out of town. >> thank you.
>>mayor villalobos: finally, mr. Carlos marco.
-- margo. He is gone. Mr. Margo is gone. Okay.
anybody to speak. I guess for -- anybody else that didn't sign up for the rezoning on behalf of the rezoning?
yes, sir. >>
>>mayor villalobos: I believe that is all for and against. So I guess we have a very important decision to make.
and I hope we. >> hello, my name is zaya
bourbon and I am 11 years old and I can't just sit here and not do anything. I just want to say, save the
park
[applause] I think we have a very important decision to make and analyze and sit down and really think about what we are going to do. We have talked about some pros
and cons as far as why. One of the biggest questions is,
well, why there. And, of course, look, we
received calls like you wouldn't believe. Since my tenure here in my commission, there has never been
something as controversial as this. Because I know they always ask, well, why there?
and the response by other people real quick is, why not move the disc park because there are different ones.
there is an answer to everything. I guess we need to analyze -- one of the things that don't
necessarily concern me, 2018 we had 28 homes that flooded in mcallen. Floated bonds, $27 million with
the drainage infrastructure fund or whatever it was two years
later when we had the same amount of rain, only 200 homes
flooded. We brought a great effort here in mcallen throughout including the south.
and there is still some things going on. And one of the things I know everybody here says no matter
what, we are going to keep on working on the drainage. Doesn't matter what we do, we always are going to have
problems. Not just in the south, but in the north and everywhere. Mr. Baracas stated sometimes it
doesn't matter what we do. That is the reason why some of us, the mayor from mission, edinburgh and pharr have been
talking of regional drainage. Even if we have perfect drainage, if the county does not, guess what will happen.
we will flood. All of us, not just the south.
we are work on this not just the city but the county. We have -- one of the this I think so that really concerns me
-- and I am going at it either wa
way. I love the fact that hopefully
children from brown, roosevelt and sam houston will see and look, we too can one day be there. One day be working there. And we have a lot of the times
-- I know I have received a lot of complaints from -- from
people, constituents in the south we don't do stuff in the south. Well, here we are -- or at least
the company is trying to do something. And I think we can do okay with the drainage, with everything,
giving the children an opportunity to do something that they can probably do in the future.
and we are very grateful that zoho has told us, look, we want to be in mcallen. If not this place, somewhere
else. Possibly, but guess what will happen to our children. And I am talking about
everybody. Because the only other place is what -- the south is always complaining about.
opinion you only do stuff in the north. Well, if zoho goes to the north, guess what district will get a
benefit, north of fred ed gonzalez is not mcallen isd. Your kids, your educators will not receive the benefit of
millions and millions of tax dollars. If it goes north of freddie gonzalez, edinburgh end ent
school district receives the benefit of what zoho.
I hope you can chime in and see what we discuss. Traffic is nothing that concerns me here and the north.
we are always going to have it. Our streets are for the purpose
of everybody. That's. For the use of everybody and we will try our best and guess
what, we will never be 100% happy. Because people want to go straight without any red lights.
I always say people going east and west, want green lights.
but so do people going north and south. We are never really going to fix the issue 100%.
it is impossible. One of the other things I think we -- when I talk to rudy. Rudy is always talking about, we
need to do more infrastructure. The lights. That is what we are looking at. Guess what it starts, with
rejuvenating area and bringing in new stuff. That is what we are talking about right here.
but there is -- I -- I heard a lot of talking about different
things. But a lot of the times what I think about the most, I love my little birds.
I, myself, I have a 15-acre tract in mesquite. And it is all green and I love it.
but guess what hi love more than nature, to me is the opportunity of a family. To have food on the table and
jobs. Like that 14-year-old and 15-year-old young lady, so passionate.
that is beautiful, but what happens if her parents don't
have jobs? So -- so there is different things we need to take a look at.
and commission, I need you all to chime in and see what you all want to do. >> vote no!
>> mayor, I am going to remind the people in attendance that
the rules of the decorum we discussed at the beginning of the meeting still apply. >>mayor villalobos: that is
where we are at. Balance the interest of disc players, birds, and family and jobs.
that is what you all need to do. >>commissioner aguirre: so the
vote needs to be taken now? >> yes. >> mayor, I recommend taking two votes since off petition on the
first item. The vote standard is slightly
different. Yes, commissioner.
because of the petition, one vote requires a 725% majority
entire commission, the other requires a 75% vote of those present voting. >> we are going to take it
together is what he said. >> I thnk the discussion was taken together, but the vote should be taken separately.
>> I would remind the commission that is on the table is only
rezoning. >> only rezoning and rezonings with the possibility of the sale of the property.
because ha has to go through fema and the whole process.
>>mayor villalobos: correct. >> everything has to be justified that it will not affect the neighborhood that it
can be rezoned to building purposes.
we never taken this lightly. We never have taken this
lightly. We can go through our own dil dilemmas, how and why. I have been here since 1964. An extremely hard decision for
us. We won't -- nature is important
to everything. And we will do what we need to think is the best for the whole city.
I will make a motion to allow the rezoning.
>>mayor villalobos: do I hear a second. >> I will second the motion. >>mayor villalobos: first and a
second. All in favor. Against? Motion carries. The next item. >> next item -- well, it is
going to be just real quick -- mcallen has been really pressing
for more green space. And we have been doing more parks and we are improving more parks in -- in this couple --
couple of years. Zoho -- real quickly.
>>mayor villalobos: go ahead. >> zoho is proposing both jobs,
business and green spaces. I believe that 20 acres are
going to be developed, but the rest are going to be still green
space, which is going to be about 65 -- 65% -- 65 acres of
green. No one likes change.
and with change comes fear. It is time to fight that fear.
and go and do the next step for the city of mcallen. There is -- somebody said that we are ten years back well, this
is going to help bridge that gap and continue to go into tech.
the tech is not the future. The tech is the present.
hand this will help mcallen jump into that and go into the future. That is all I have to say, sir.
>>mayor villalobos: at the very end, when we talk of "green.."
I think green is very important, I really do. We are going in the budget, and I will really suggest at looking
at -- you know, and into our parks. What a else we can do and acquiring different properties
to keep on doing. You see the community is demanding more green space. We need to figure it out too.
>> mayor, again -- >>mayor villalobos: the public hearing has been closed. >> mayor, a motion on the take?
>>mayor: there is a motion on the table. >> that's a -- I make a motion for the second vote.
>>mayor villalobos: do I hear a second. All against? Motion carries.
thank you so much. Thank you all so much.
b 3 is tabled. >> no action. For b-4, 9228 bicentennial boulevard, the applicant
requested that the full board be allowed to vote since it has a supermajority. >> I apologize.
I need to abstain from b-4, not b-3.
>> b-4 stud stay on the table. >> the next would be amending
the zoning ordinance. >> there a motion to approve the
amending of the zoning ordinance. >> a motion and a second. All in favor, say aye.
all opposed, same sign. Motion passes.
that is the end of the public hearings. We will go to item number 2, consent agenda.
are there any items on the consent agenda that you want
heard independently? If not, I will entertain a
motion tie prove a-12. >> a a 2-k.
>> a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. All in favor. Opposed, same sign.
motion passes. Item 3-a.
>> item 3-a is award of contract for quinta mazatlan for urban
ecology. >> mayor pro tem and commissioners, the center for urban ecology include a park and
ride, center of urban ecology building with a super structure,
amphi amphitheatre, balm bridge, palm room deck, adventure garden. Proposed project will are
hands-on work area for the public and students to learn of bio diversity and sustainability.
after review the guaranteed maximum price, award of the
contract for quinta mazatlan withalities that the one, two,
three 5a to 5b thundershower $33,630,000 035.
and alternate for based on review -- base on a revised for
guaranteed $51,928,095. And open it up for any que
questions. >> my laptop -- says alternative but includes all those. >> we are asking for approval of
the 33 million. And revise the mou through
legal. Full project for the building and that it has agreed to pay for in that mou.
>> splitting out basically the city's portion and its resource
s to it. >> correct. One of the things that is different than we actually heard
at the workshop when we agreed and you agreed to move forward
that ut rgv agreed to allow us to award the entire project and
through a mou, they will pay their $21 million or so to the city of mcallen. >> a great day today.
I am so tired, but I should be smiling. >> move to approve. >> second.
>>mayor villalobos: all in favor. Against? Motion carries. Counselor just reminded me to make sure that the record was clear that I was in favor of the last items on the rezoning.
okay. Where are we at. >> thank you, great job. >> appreciate it.
>> 3-b, consideration approval of change order number 2 for the
bicentennial blue line bridge improvement project at harveys and bicentennial. >> proposed change order with
additional materials and work that the hidalgo water irrigation district number 3 for -- for irrigation water line
crossing over bicentennial blue line ditch as requested.
existing shallow irrigation ride and water line conflict at harvey avenue and bicentennial is required.
the project account has sufficient funds to cover the
additional scope. Staff recommends approval of change order number 154,083.52 with revised $4,853,814.16.
and no change to contract time and we open it up for any
questions. >> two quelling. You stated the account has enough to cover, but additional
money. >> yes, sir. >> the bicentennial blue line project has sufficient funds to
cover this change order. >> the amount of the bridge
originally. >> and you have a contingency. >> we do a project estimate. >> okay.
>> when the project comes in, it came in under and we have the same budgeted amount. When we get this add.
>> the benefit of them coming under. We lost a little bit. >> this is a change order.
a change in scope. This wasn't part of the original bid. >> just things that couldn't be
foreseen with the original engineer. Again, my laptop died and I remember seeing the tail end.
>> the irrigation line was -- >> irrigation, I think is pretty
heavy and other stuff. Irrigation was six inches from the roadway when we opened that up.
way too shallow for us to leave it. So we had to lower that. And we had a conflict.
>> important question, will it get done by the end of july --
>> I know I did come the last meeting by president end of
july. We are working through the second week of august. They are working on the
concrete. And subgrade. We have been working with the contractor about that and
getting the cleanup done along bicentennial ditch as well.
>> if I could get time table, schedule and some details on what -- I know we had some weather delays, but, I promised
it so some nearby residents. End of may, end of june and
july, now I am told second week of august to start soul of the subgrade. >> I definitely understand.
one of the reason we made contractor have no time. They have october with their timeline.
we don't want to give them more time just because -- because of this additional work. We are conscious of it and
pushing them to get a time line o
out. >> thank you. >> we need a motion for 3b. >> motion to approve.
>> all in favor, say aye, against, motion carries.
>> 3-c consideration for approval for the anzalduas bridge improvement project. Mayor and commission.
and the scope for soft soils and the foundation for the inbound
and outbound facilities. After conducting supplemental
field and analysis, the recommendation to remove the
weak soils to the specified depth and suitable materials
with reinforcement. In order to bring it within the
toler tole tolerances and additional five feet.
will have an excavation of one and a half feet. Both require import and placement of the suitable
material. Rekated cows 607,500. And $142,500 with the court where bound and inbound
respectively. Our consultant engineer and
staff recommends approval of change order in the am of
$750,000 with for additional works days $28,875,000.
and a unchanged contract of 400 working days subject to budget amendment. We open it up for any questions.
>> I have got a question. With the contractor for the geo
tech company, wouldn't they have known that there was an issue there. Why are we getting a change
order on this issue? >> we do drills. Based on those drills, they do a payment recommendation.
on top of that recommendation, what it does, it tells you what
their remediation is. And they do it on the best-case
scenario. When they opened up that soil, there was pumping. It was back in april.
we waited almost eight weeks to see if that could dry out for it
not to pump. If we could get a solid ground to work on, then we can start working up.
in addition to that the geo tech company went on their own to do
two additional to supplement and make a better recommendation.
only esca ventilatoring a foot and a half to get a get a better
recommendation. We have to go to the worst-case
scenario and part of the change order and not part of the base bid. >> like $82 -- 8, $81 million
for the contract and that is an issue that potentially they
should have known of. I just wonder how many more
change orders we have ahead of us. I am just bringing up a concern. I don't know what the rest of
the commission thinks. >> let me say this. I am with you. This has been going on now for
some time. We have been trying to figure out what is the best course of action here.
hidalgo is using a term that you may or may not heard before,
pumping. You know.
it's -- this weird term that doesn't make any sense, right. But it is a true phenomenon that happens very rarely out in the
field. Basically, going to try to not get into weeds here, but you have to be able to compact the
soil, right. What the engineers do. The geotechnical engineer. They tell you how much water
they need. How much compaction they need.
when do you that, that soil will be perfectly ready to take the load. When you have bumping, you meet
all of those criterias and something is still not right.
the soil is actually -- they call it pumping because it is actually moving and unable to stabilize that soil.
so what they usually do is rip it up and let air get into the
soil. Re compact it. They didn't do it this time. Like I said it is very rare that
this happens, but it does happen and what we are concerned about
is the magnitude of the dollars here. We have been working on this for weeks. We looked at boring samples. We looked at the bore logs.
we talked about using lime. Because that someone of the ways to fix this, to stabilize by adding lime.
with the concrete mixture. Nothing worked. Ultimately we decided for a change order.
up look at the cross section. They basically have three feet of soil. Remove it with gravel.
geo tech style. All these things. It is very, very complicated and we feel like we have no other
alternative. We don't like it. I definitely don't like the dollar amount, but we have been
dealing with this for weeks. And we just -- we can't do
anything else. >> to that point success ratio.
>> it will work. Once they do this new section, it will work because will dewater the soil and that pump
also stop. >>commissioner aguirre: I missed effort start of it. How big of an area is it?
>> under they both buildings, inbound and outbound buildings
and we absolutely have to have a good foundation or we will be in a lot of trouble. >> how much lime percentage?
>> well, we are not. We are going to move it
completely. You tried to put lime already? >> we looked at alternative for lime and it won't be enough.
>>commissioner aguirre: it won't be enough.
for an engineer. >> thanks for that explanation. It was great. >>mayor villalobos: do I hear a motion to approve. >> so moved.
>> second. >>mayor villalobos: all in favor, say aye. Against. Motion carries. Item d.
>>d, is consideration of approval for the collective
bargaining of the mcallen professional law enforcement
association. We have been negotiating now for several months and we had a tentative agreement here a
couple of weeks ago. The chief allowed the staff to
do their voting in the last few weeks. We have an agreement. We think it is fair.
it puts the police department and our officers -- you know, it
is never enough, right. Never enough, because there is so many competing parties in the rio grande valley.
but I want to say for sure that I really respect the the way
they negotiates. I would like to thank omar
quintanilla who was on our team. We recommend approval.
the chief. >> additional information on the tentative agreement that I think you have been briefed on has been voted on by the union. They approved it.
so if you a I prove this tonight, they are ready to sign.
>> I make a motion to accept. >> second. >>mayor villalobos: all in favor, say aye.
against. Motion cares. Congratulations. >> chief, thank you, and please
tell everyone thank you. >>mayor villalobos: item 4-a.
>> mayor, the next two were resolutions that I could have
been on consent mayor motion to approve 4a andb.
all in favor, say aye. Against. Motion carries. Item c.
>> yes, a resolution for the use of eminent domain for taylor
road phase 2. Isaac. >> mayor, commissioners, part of the project that mission is
working on. Although the city of mcallen mission have adopted a similar resolution.
some county property for the project does involve mcallen land and to make sure there is no question the authority for
the use of the project is authorized. We brought this resolution to you for your consideration.
but this is consistent with the other previous eminent domain actions we have taken the last --
>>mayor villalobos: one that requires a record vote. >> it would be better if we did. >>mayor villalobos: a first.
do I hear a second. >> second.
>> mr. Castillo, in favor or against? >> favor. >> favor. >> favor. >> favor.
>> favor. >>mayor villalobos: motion passes. Next item.
manager's report. Advisory board appointments.
>> good evening, mayor and the city commission. This is for advisory board appointment.
do nominations, one for the golf course. Commissioner aguirre has nominated dr. Rashed sayed.
and commissioner castillo, alison brevalt to the library
advisory board. All the nominations highlighted in green are eligible for reappointments and they wish to
be reappointed in the event that any of you want to reappoint them. >>mayor villalobos: a motion to
approve or any other additions. >>commissioner aguirre: so moved. >> second.
>>mayor villalobos: all in favor, say aye. >> no, I don't have any. Second. >>mayor villalobos: all in favor, say aye.
against. Motion carries. Item 5-b, appointment to t the rma.
I talked to a lot of different interest from different people
and one of the ones that I know was -- was michael williamson.
I talked to mr. Williamson. He works for texas regional
bank, I believe. He is a very good professional individual who would be worthy of this position.
and I am asking for the commission to appoint him to the rma. >> he is a good guy.
I recommend approval. >> second. >> I saw this popped up. One name.
I don't know -- >>mayor villalobos: forest was
moving away. >> great. We want to thank forest reynolds.
>>mayor villalobos: for quite a bit, reappointed some time ago and my understanding he was moving me out.
>> mayor makes a recommendation. >> motion to to approve. >> a second from commissioner castillo.
>>mayor villalobos: all in favor, say aye. Against. Congratulation mrs. Williamson.
future agenda -- respite report. >> mayor, city commission,
immigration drop-off numbers have remained fluctuating. Sometimes high. Sometimes low.
this time they are a little bit lower than normal. Over the past few weeks, they -- we made about 370 to 375.
covid positive average 3.6% over of the last six weeks with a
notable increase of 7.1% and we are seeing a little less. The covid numbers are a little higher.
but we know we continue to handle these well. And anzalduas park remains at capacity of 2,000 with less than
100 people there today. >>mayor villalobos: any
questions? Thank you so much. >> thank you. >>mayor villalobos: future
agenda items. What do we have?
>> a short list there, mayor, we will bring back.
this. >>mayor villalobos: this is for the budget. See what we can do with a little more greenery and trees throughout.
where is parks. I was at -- at the girl
softball. There is an area that used to be a baseball field that is totally open.
what that for?
[indiscernible] >>mayor villalobos: I was
thinking of a bunch of tree there is, but maybe not.
okay. Well. >> behind the volleyball courts. >>mayor villalobos: by the way,
the philippines took it. Thank you.
team from the philippines. One from puerto rico and then about 60 teams from mexico. It was amazing.
>> great job by the boys and girls club. >> it was amazing. The energy.
it was super. >>mayor villalobos: and the filipino players were a little surprised I was walking around
without security. [laughter]
but that is something different. Okay. Future agenda items. >> third largest -- safest.
recess in executive session. One item to consider.
. >>mayor villalobos: we are back from executive session. >> 6-a-1, the city commission
authorizing city manager and city attorney to offer the
economic development incentives described in executive session.
>>mayor villalobos: do I hear a motion. >> motion to approve. >> second. >>mayor villalobos: all in favor, say aye.
against? Motion carried . >>> -a-2, to negotiate an
additional year to start the incentive period for the
economic development incentives described in executive session. >>mayor villalobos: do I hear a motion to that effect.
>> so moved. >> second. >>mayor villalobos: all in favor, say aye.
against. >> 6-a-3, the city commission
and city attorney to discuss settlement. >>mayor villalobos: motion. >> so moved.
>> second. >>mayor villalobos: all in favor. Against. Motion carries. >> mayor, I recommend the city
commission consider a motion to adjourn. >>mayor villalobos: there being no further business, this
meeting is adjourned. >> regular city commission meetings are held on the second and fourth monday of each month.
meetings are rebroadcast on tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays on the mcallen cable network.