THE STATE OF TEXAS S CITY OF BROWNSVILLE $ COUNTY OF CAMERON S  MINUTES ofa Special Meeting oft the City Commission ofthe City ofBrownsville, Texas, held on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., with the following members present via Webex https/brownsvlle.webex.com/brownsvile/php/MIID-m226eab3c610C7413e4292e18819b5dcb  Teleconference Meeting by logging on at: Meeting Number: 960107666 TREY MENDEZ JOHN F.COWEN,JR. ROSE GOWEN NURITH GALONSKY PIZANA BEN NEECE NOEL BERNAL HELEN RAMIREZ BRYANT WALKER RENE DE COSS GRISELDA ROSAS ABSENT  Mayor COMMISSIONERS AtLarge "A" At-Large "B" District1 District 4 CITY MANAGER DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CITY ATTORNEY INTERIM CITY SECRETARY JESSICA TETREAU - District 2 JOEL MUNGUIA - District3 3 ELIZABETH WALKER - Assistant City  Manager  CALL TO ORDER a) Roll Call  A quorum being present, Ms. Griselda Rosas, Interim City Secretary, read the call to order to consider the matters as posted and filed for the record in The Office  oft the City Secretary on April 24, 2020.  b) Invocation  Pastor Brad Burkes from Embassy of the Spirit Church led the invocation.  PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD  No one signed up for Public Comment.  Special Meeting Minutes April 28, 2020- - Page 1of5    1. Discussion regarding the City of Brownsville response to the urgent public necessity concerning COVID-19, otherwise known as Coronavirus, including but a. Continuity Plan Update: City staffing, facilities and services, including  not limited to:  actions and continuity of such operations; b. Financial Update: Emergency Procurement; and Drive-thru collections/testing site update  Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, Public Health Director and Ms. Michelle Jones, Epidemiologist  briefly updated the Commission oft the following:  asofApril 27, 2020, 1,4461 tests were administered with 1,781 not meeting the eighty six people were positive and 1,317 were negative and 43 results pending, in which the criteria has recently expanded toi include more symptoms as of day 19, (April 20, 2020) the test has transitioned from sputum to swab testing for ai more accurate result; averaging about five cases per day no deaths have been reported and the majority ofthe cases fall under "Linked to Previous Case"; the importance is that it illustrated the city as slightly staying ahead of the curve by finding the cases early enough to where the "Community" base source infection is not the primary ranking number at this Dr. Arturo Rodriguez also emphasized the number of questionnaires received from April 24, 2020 being 22 submissions VS. March 27, 2020 with 326 submissions. Dr. Rodriguez further explained the decrease by stating the citizens were being informed adequately: in the use oft the drive thru and outreach programs implemented are reaching the intended goal and more testing facilities were in operation than in the beginning and some providers were even: referring them to the Lupe Granado, Finance Director briefly updated the Commission on the  criteria, 55% were: insured and 45% were uninsured  point  testing sight.  COVID-19 expense report noting the following:  Starting with the FY20 Budget Impact, the total expense to date are in the amount of$3,132,308.00 with Personnel (Police and Fire) incurring the majority of the expenses due to overtime followed by Supplies and The Emergency Procurement with $137,527.00, the total expense to date with Testing Kits (for the uninsured) incurring the majority oft the expenses, followed by Operation Cost (medical staff) and PPE Masks. As of April 12, 2020, FEMA may possibly reimburse the city 75% Mr. Granado noted that the department had only received half of the masks originally ordered and] have cancelled thei remaining quantity due tol lack ofsupplies and reordered with a different vendor for the remaining amount; and purchasing was ordering a large amount (about 20,000 masks). He further noted that the city  Contract costs  ($2,349,231.00).  currently had in stock a healthy supply of about 3,000 masks.  Special Meeting Minutes April 28, 2020 - Page 2 of5    Brief discussion ensued amongst the Commission. Brownsville Organization and noted the following:  Mr. Noel Bernal, City Manager briefly updated the Commission on the City of  had been scheduling small groups with the Commission to start prepping for next scheduled meeting, for any revision to the current declaration and planning for the recovery phase internally with City does not foresee reopening facilities until the earlier part of May 2020 and it would be mainly to accommodate businesses would be focusing on rethinking traditional practices that wel have had inj place within the organization and adapting new ones Teleworking as an incentive, flexible work arrangements and taking more proactive efforts within the organization reported a sales tax impact we might be expecting. As per his research, the sales tax impact would be about a 20% drop Mr. Bernal further noted that the suggestions were based on information gathered by Emergency Management, Public Health, and the Commission. He did inform that the economy will open up with limited access, this would insulate and protect the city from any steep losses, and on the other hand, ift the city opens too early, there might be a second wave: sometime in the fall. Mr. Bernal mentioned the impact would not be known for thei month ofMarch until May when there is ai two- month lag would only be for halft the month. A more accurate number would be in June when the report would see the entire month of April's impact. Felix Sauceda, Police Chief briefly informed the Commission that the department has been mainly concentrating on informing thej public and making sure everyone is complying with protocol. He further noted that out of the 3,500 contacts, 300 have been actual citations and for safety reasons, the department has been practicing safety protocols and there has been zero cases within the  staff  department.  PUBLIC HEARING (S)  2. Public Hearing and ACTION on FIRST READING on Ordinance Number 235- 2019-011-S, to allow a wireless communication facility, a General Retail (4C) use in Light industrial "J" (7CJ) for a 1.67 acre tract of land in Lot 1, R.A. Lieck Estate, Partition Share 22, Espiritu Santo Grant, located near the corner of] Fish Mr. Martin Vega, Senior Planner briefly explained the proposed ordinance, noting that the request was to allow a wireless communication facility. At this time, Mr. Vega briefly provided a background on the proposed ordinance. He further noted that as per the established process for adopting, approving, and enacting an amendment to the official zoning atlas and as per the aforementioned court order, a Specific Use Permit to allow a wireless communication facility must be issued expeditiously.  Hatchery Road and Expressway 77. (District4 4)  Special Meeting Minutes April 28, 2020 - Page 3 of5    Ms. Iris Perales, Ms. Rosalinda Perales, Carmen Almaraz and Ms. Graciela Villarreal, strongly opposed to the construction oft the tower, and expressed concern in  regards to safety and health due to weather and radiation issues. Briefd discussion ensued amongst the Commission and City Staff. Gowen and carried unanimously, the public hearing was closed.  Upon motion by Commissioner John F. Cowen seconded by Commissioner Rose Commissioner Ben Neece moved that Ordinance Number 235-2019-011-5, be adopted at first reading, to allow a wireless communication facility, a General Retail (4C) use in Light industrial "J" (7CJ) fora a 1.67 acre tract of land in Lot1, R.A. Lieck Estate, Partition Share 22, Espiritu Santo Grant, located near the corner of Fish Hatchery Road and Expressway 77. (District 4) The motion was seconded by  Commissioner Rose Gowen and carried unanimously.  ITEM(S) FORI INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION  3. Consideration and ACTION to approve Interlocal Agreement between the City ofHarlingen and the City of Brownsville to assist in the detection and mitigation efforts in response to the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic by cooperating Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, Public Health Director briefly informed the Commission on the proposed agenda item, noting that the registration and questionnaire was currently being submitted thru btxcares.com, which in turn gives more exposure to our BTX campaign. Dr. Rodriguez further noted that the Sports Park drive thru had the capacity to facilitate the increase vehicle flow for up to six lanes (currently we have only used two lanes) and in regards to supplies, working with the contractor to meet demand. Commissioner. Rose Gowen moved that the Interlocal Agreement between the City ofHarlingen and the City ofBrownsville to assist ini the detection and: mitigation efforts in response to the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic by cooperating in the Drive-Thru Testing Site, be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner  in the Drive-Thru Testing Site.  John F. Cowen and carried unanimously. for Linear Park Improvements.  4. Consideration and ACTION on a License Agreement with the Mitte Foundation  Ramiro Gonzalez, Government and Community Affairs Director briefly informed the Commission of the improvements being considered for the park, which includes landscaping and sidewalks. He further informed that the two major improvements would be building the public restroom and installing public art sculptures and the cost Commissioner Rose Gowen moved that a License Agreement with the Mitte Foundation for Linear Park Improvements, be approved. The motion was seconded by  would be at 50/50 with the Mitte Foundation.  Commissioner John Cowen, Jr., and carried unanimously.  Special Meeting Minutes. April 28, 2020- - Page 4 of5    5. Consideration and ACTION to accept a Grant under the Coronavirus Air, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136), in the amount of$1,857,797.00 from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Brownsville South Padre. Island Mr. Shawn Schroeder, Assistant Airport Director, briefly explained the proposed Commissioner Ben Neece moved that a Grant under the Coronavirus Air, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136), in the amount of $1,857,797.00 from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport, be accepted and approved. The motion was seconded by . Consideration and ACTION to vacate the prior City Commission action taken at the meeting of April 21, 2020, purporting to award the Anacua Street and Naranjo Road Pavement, Sidewalk, Driveway and Drainage Improvement Project to G&TPaving! LLC, and award the project to the lowest responsiveand responsible bidder Total Commitment Construction, in the amount $2,810,332.75, and authorize the Mayor to execute the construction contract. Lupe Granado, Finance Director briefly explained the proposed agenda item. Mr. Granado noted that in accordance with Texas Government Code Section 271, it allows municipalities to award a bid that is within 5% of the lowest responsive bidder and it states that this can only be invoked ift the construction project is less than $100,000.00. Commissioner Ben Neece moved to rescind his previous motion of awarding the contract to G & T Paving and award the project to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to Total Commitment Construction. The motion was seconded by  International Airport. agenda item.  Commissioner John Cowen, Jr., and carried unanimously.  Brief discussion ensued amongst the Commission.  Commissioner John Cowen, Jr., and carried unanimously.  ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business to come before the Commission, upon duly made  motion the meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m. Approved this 4th day of August  2020.  Trey Mayor    Attest: Griselda Rosas Interim City Secretary  4k  Respectfully: submitted by: Yolanda Galara-ldmimisrathe. Supervisor Office oft the City Secretary  FEBRUARY7 1853  Special Meeting Minutes April 28, 2020 - Page 5of5