THE STATE OF TEXAS CITY OFI BROWNSVILLE 3 COUNTY OF CAMERON S  MINUTES ofa Special Meeting oft the City Commission ofthe City of] Brownsville, Texas, held on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 5:30 P.M., with the following members present via Zoom  Teleconference Meeting by logging on at: t/momus628Ds.9 Meeting Number: 621 840529  TREY MENDEZ JOHN F. COWEN,JR. ROSE GOWEN NURITH GALONSKY PIZANA JESSICA TETREAU JOEL MUNGUIA BEN NEECE NOEL BERNAL HELEN RAMIREL BRYANT WALKER RENE DE COSS GRISELDA ROSAS ABSENT  Mayor COMMISSIONERS AtLarge "A" At-Large "B" District1 District2 District3 District 4 CITY MANAGER DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CITY ATTORNEY INTERIM CITY SECRETARY ELIZABETH WALKER = Assistant  City Manager  CALLTOORDER 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 of the  City Secretary on March 27, 2020.  PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD  Mr. Jesus Salinas registered for Public Comment, whom chose not to address the Commission, but did request that his opinion be registered for the record. 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;  Special Meeting Minutes April 1,2 2020- - Page 1of5    At this time, Department Directors provided a brief explanation and updated the Commission of their perspective continuity plans, which had taken in effect on March 17, 2020, when Mayor Trey Mendez declared the Local Disaster for Public Mr. Bryant Walker, Assistant City Manager/Aviation Administrator, briefly informed the Commissioner that as part of the department's continuity plan, the airport determined which employees were eligible to telework. He further noted that the airport access was limited to the terminals, an increase in custodial sanitation throughout the airport was in place, and passengers were being screened Mr. Rene De Coss, City Attorney, briefly informed the Commission that the purpose oft the continuity plan was to allow the office to continue its operations and legal services to the City of Brownsville through catastrophic events. He further noted that the office had established a succession order and a redundancy in the manner it provides its legal services to ensure that the next person up can always operate and continue with the duties and responsibilities of the office. Ms. Griselda Rosas, Interim City Secretary, briefly informed the Commission that the department was open to the public with the assistance from other City Mr. Felipe Romero, Director of Communications and Marketing, briefly informed the Commission that his staff was currently teleworking and alternating on call duty weekdays and weekends. He further noted that the department was providing immediate support on distributing urgent and lifesaving communications Mr. Armando Gutierrez, Engineering & Public Works Director, briefly informed the Commission that all services were still in effect, however changes had been made where public contact was involved and the light traffic had been facilitated the street work such as paving, patching, and stripping. He further: noted that at the Landfill, citizens were encouraged to remain in their vehicles and transactions were being conducted through the drive thru window. Mr. Lupe Granado, Finance Director, briefly informed the Commission that the in-office and remote processes had been implemented to achieve the continuation  Health Emergency, as follow:  when arriving at the airport.  department staffto.  related to COVID-19.  ofs services. Mr. Granado further noted the following:  Research and recommendations would be made in light of the macro level functions and impacts of the current event to sales tax, building Procurement Services has been providing direct assistance to COVID- Accounts payables was currently working on a system to approve vendor payments electronically within their ER system assuring timely Working with revenue from other departments and allocating resources from them in order to minimize impact on the city budget.  permits, bridge revenue, property tax, etc.  19r related activities.  payments to vendors are being processed  Special Meeting Minutes April 1,2020 - Page 20 of5    Ms. Gail Bruciak, Enterprise Applications Director, briefly informed the Commission, it was essential to provide uninterruptable services to the public and continue toi maintain the same level ofinternal and external customer service during the unprecedented pandemic, by providing continual information technology support services and maintaining an infrastructure network and application availability of99.99% and implementing a telework plan across the departments. Fire Chief. Jarrett Sheldon briefly informed the Commission that the Continuity Plan had been implemented in phases since the beginning ofMarch 19,2020, when delegation ofauthority was designated at all divisions. Chief Sheldon further noted that the department was currently implementing plans to eliminate exposure to Ms. Roxanna Moreno, Internal Services briefly informed the Commission that the call center was operating in a normal capacity. She further noted that the Continuity Plan to telework was ini it's the final stages to become effective. April 6, 2020, and Fleet and building maintenance were still conducting normal operations Mr. Jerry Hedgecock, Library Director briefly informed the Commission that as part of the Continuity Plan the following had been implemented following  employees and the community.  following proper protocol. projects and strategies:  Book collection inventory Virtual Library Project  Created ai new way forj patrons to apply and: receive a virtual library card Developing a program strategy for children and adults which will be Cross department support - assisting other departments with critical Mr. Mike Sanchez, Municipal Court briefly informed the Commission that the department and drive thru was open to the public and measures were being taken Ms. Perla Cepeda, Organizational Development & Human Resources Director, briefly informed the Commission that the department had implemented the Damaris McGlone, Parks & Recreation Director briefly informed the Commission that shel had accounted for thet ten (10) divisions that she oversees and was able to meet the goals in the plan for its essential functions, while most of the in-person services to the public were halted such as events, gyms, parks and Police Chief Felix Sauceda briefly informed the Commission that services will not be suspended but changes have been implemented to protect employees and citizens. The department has been heavily leaning on technology by launching their  provided via video streaming  needs  to ensure the safety of the employees.  strategies that are in line with the Continuity Plan.  playgrounds, leagues, camps and afterschool activities.  app.  Special Meeting Minutes April 1, 2020 - Page 3 of5    Rick Vasquez, Planning & Redevelopment Director briefly informed the Commission that the department had personnel in-office working and teleworking Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, Public Health briefly informed the Commission that the department had transitioned from normal operations to working within the incident  with normal business hours.  command system. Dr. Rodriguez: further: noted the following:  majority of staff were in level one critical mission working closely with legal and police departments  department added a drive thru window at city plaza and inspectors are Mr. Noel Bernal, City Manager briefly informed the Commission that in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the City Manager's Office ensured it's most important and time critical operations are performed efficiently and with minimal disruption, and explored additional steps to adjust its continuity of  now able to respond after hours  operations over the long-term.  b. Financial Update: Emergency Procurement; and  Mr. Lupe Granado, Finance Director briefly updated the Commission of the  following:  total expenditure was $552,563 with $414,442 eligible for FEMA the majority was being spent on personnel overtime from Police and other areas of expenses were on supplies, lease costs, contract costs, and use of equipment The emergency procurement expense is at $78,230 the city was currently paying the uninsured tests kits at a cost of $110 Mr. Shawn Schroeder, Assistant Airport Director briefly updated the emphasized only ticketed passengers were allowed in the terminal increase of security, custodial and disinfecting has been taken in effect rental car companies have limited counter hours and the restaurant Ms. Norma Zamora, Multimodal Transportation Director briefly updated the  reimbursement Fire  with the majority spent on masks  per citizen  Commission with the following:  at the airport closed on April 6, 2020  Commission of the following:  there has been a decrease in passengers compare to last year, majority City of Brownsvlle/B-Metro had been eligible for the Federal Emergency Relief Legislation funding of $25 billion in funds, which had been made available to transit 5307 recipients and other COVID-19  oft trips are mostly medical or work related  related issues  Special Meeting Minutes April 1, 2020 - Page 40 of5    Drive-thru collections/testing site update  Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, Public Health Director and Ms. Odie Leal, Emergency Management Administrator briefly updated the Commission of the testing site as  follow:  currently 338 patients had been tested with 191 insured and 147  uninsured  three people had tested positive and 335 negative occupying large number of vehicles  the site was open Monday through Friday and had the capacity of  ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business to come before the Commission, upon duly made  motion the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.  Approved this 4th day of_ August , 2020.  Trey Mayor  &  Attest: R Griseldal Rosas Interim City Secretarysk  Respectfully. submitted by: Jose A. Gonzalez, Reference Librarian Ofice ofi the City Secretary  RLAT  Special Meeting Minutes April 1,2020 - Page 5of5