CITY OF NATALIA 2078 State Hwy. 132N N. . P.O. Box 270 . Natalia, TX 78059-0270 (830)663-2926 . Metro (830)665-2206 . Fax (830)663-3806  PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2078 STATE HWY 132 NORTH, NATALIA, TEXAS 17 JUNE 2024 at 7:00 P.M.  MINUTES ROLLO CALL:  Mayor Tommy Ortiz = Present Alderman Mike Fernandez = Present Alderwoman Ruby' Vera - Present  Mayor Pro-Tem Sam Smith - Present Alderman Darin Frazier Present Alderman Selica Vera - Present  1. CALL TO ORDER: Allegiance by Mayor Ortiz.  Mayor Ortiz called the regular city council meeting to order at 7:00 pm; followed by the Pledge of  OPEN PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Ortiz opened the public hearing at 7:00 PM to receive citizens' comments on the request replat Lot 58A, 346 Mustang Ridge, a 2.17-acre lot. The request is to subdivide Lot 58A into two lots renaming them as Lot 58A, a 1.11-acre lot and Lot 58B, a 1.06-acre lot. Mr. Clinton Dunn stated the cemetery that is located on the lots is over 100 years old, his family is buried there. He also believes there the burial sites on the plat are not accurate. Mr. Dunn stated that he believes there are other burial sites along the back fence line of the property. He would like to put a full fence up and a name marker sign to identify the cemetery. He plans to contact the historical society. Alderman Frazier asked Mr. Dunn who oversees the cemetery. Alderman Frazier stated they are not closing the cemetery they are still giving access to the cemetery from Mustang Ridge. Nichole Bermea stated that are giving an access point through an easement and the easement also surrounds the cemetery. Alderman Smith stated the access is there to the cemetery, all they are requesting is to divide the one lot into two lots.  Mayor Ortiz closed the public hearing at 7:10 PM.  REGULAR SESSION:  3. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD: Mr. Manuel Saldana stated that he placed piles of brush for pick up during brush pick up at a lot that he's purchased to clean up and build on to better the community. The brush was not picked up and he was given excuses why it was not picked up. The first excuse was that there is no trash service at the property, and he feels that they pick and choose who to pick up and he knows they picked up at other properties that don't have service. The second excuse was that the piles were too large, again he knows at least one pile on Miller Street that was just as large and was picked up. He feels his brush was not picked up due to him having a dumpster on his property that is not rented through STRD and that the city cannot make citizens use the city's contracted trash services for dumpster rental. Mr. Saldana asked the council to please work with him as he is trying to clean up a property and build a  duplex to better the community.  4. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Alderwoman Vera stated the city looks good after brush pick up and there's been a large visual presence of police officers and its very positive. Alderman Fernandez tanked Nichole for making sure a new streetlight was installed on highway 132 near the boutique. Alderman  1    Fernandez requested an on-call schedule for the utility workers. Alderman Frazier thanked Nichole for taking care of the plants in front of city hall and having the benches fixed. Alderman Frazier requested that we have future discussion on using the chipper/mulcher for citizens' brush. He stated we need a solution for thet times customers havel brush in between brush pick up. Alderman Smith thanked the police department for patrolling. He stated that we need to make sure that the information oni the city website is accurate. Alderwoman Ruby' Vera stated the brush pick up went well but we needi to make suret to address the ones that put items on the easement after pick up concluded. She also recognized Officer Mc Quaide for his kindness and professionalism during a call for a death over the recent weekend. Mayor Ortiz thanked staff, he stated that the city is looking good overall, and the staff is doing the best that they can.  CONSENT AGENDA:  All of the following items are considered to be routine by the City Council, there will be no separate discussion on these items and will be enacted with one motion; unless removed. by any Council Member to discuss and consider separately by making such request prior to a motion and vote.  a) Approval oft the Minutes:  20 May 2024 Regular Meeting  ) Approval oft the Financial Activity Report: May 2024 Approval oft the Utility Department. Activity Report: May 2024 1) Approval oft the Municipal Court Activity Report: May 2024 seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0; motion carried  e) Approval oft the Police Department/Code Enforcement Activity Reports: May 2024  Action: Alderman Fernandez made the motion approving the consent agenda, and Alderman Smith  6. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:  a) City Administrator/Secrelaly reported that Aiden has been hired full time and is doing a really good job. Vic is in the process of receiving his Class C ground water license. Nichole is planning a retirement dinner for Joe Arrellano and will be contacting the council with a date and time. The dinner will be sometime in July. The notice for filing an application for place on the November 5th election ballot has been posted. We have (3) three alderman positions up.. Applications can be filed between July 20 and August 19, 2024. Natalia city offices will be closed on July 4th. Nichole reported that the utility workers have begun summer hours. The HOME program turnover was a success, and we are now in the beginning stages of the next round of homes to be built. Nichole reported that the 2023 b) Utility Director- - Art Smith reported that the workers' summer hours are 7a-4p, with the on-call person working 8a-5p. Art reported the weather has been causing leaks. They had two leaks on Friday, but c) NMDD - Ruby Vera reported there will be a blood drive on June 29th at thel MDD property. Ruby also reported that she submitted two possible properties to Go Medina for upcoming projects looking for d) Chief of Police - Martin Chavez reported that the department is working hard on loose dogs and code  CCR report has been completed and published.  the repairs were completed smoothly.  locations. compliance issues.  e) Mayor - Tommy Ortiz thanked staff and the city council. SCISSONCOASDERATON OF ACTION ITEMS:  7. Discuss/Consider request to replat Lot 58A, 346 Mustang Ridge, Mustang Estates into two lots renaming them as Lot 58A, a 1.11-acre lot and Lot 58B, a 1.06-acre lot. Alderman Fernandez questioned the width of the easement for the cemetery and asked why it says variable" VS. an actual width. He suggests it have a 20 ft. easement around the cemetery and access. Alderman Frazier questioned whether it is a good idea to start subdividing the properties as once it starts others will want too as well. The original idea of those lots was to have a couple of acres at minimum for each residence. Alderwoman Ruby Vera stated that the city does not have the  2    manpower or expertise to take care of a city owned cemetery by which is required by law. Also, there is no legal record of the cemetery as far as she knows. Ruby reminded the council that many years ago the McFadden family gave the property to the city but at that time the deed was never filed. In 2013 it came back to the council and the council declined to accept the property. Alderman Frazier suggested we request they specify the actual width of the easement. Nichole reminded the council that this is a preliminary plat and they will still have to submit a final plat. Alderman Frazier believes the council needs to consider future re-plats ini the city. Alderwoman Ruby Vera asked Mr. Dunn if he had begun the process to have the cemetery marked as an official cemetery. Mr. Dunn stated that he did do research but now that this request has been submitted, he plans to do it as soon as possible. Alderman Fernandez and Alderwoman Selica Vera feel the easement should be specified as a 251 ft. easement. Alderman Ruby Vera made a motion to approve the preliminary plat with an addition of a 25 ft. easement for the cemetery showing on the plat. Alderwoman Selica' Vera seconded the motion. Motion failed; 2-3. Alderman Smith stated he believes given the circumstances oft the cemetery and burial plots ont the property we need to have the city attorney review everything and give an opinion before the city makes a difference. Mr. Dunn stated that there were stones and grave markers in the area by the fence line but someone has removed them. Alderwoman Ruby Vera asked if this was before or after Mustang Estates was annexed into the city and Mr. Dunn responded it was after. Alderman Smith made a motion to table the item until the city attorney reviews the request and takes into consideration the cemetery and additional burial plots outside of the known marked cemetery. Discuss/Consider agreement establishing the Medina County Regional Water Alliance, with an initial contribution of 2.93% or approximately $2,696 oft the total budget current fiscal year budget of $92,000 to cover engineering services, legal services and administrative services for feasibility study. Nichole and the Mayor reported the outcome of the most recent MCRW - ASR meeting and Nichole explained the city's initial contribution amount for the feasibility study which will be due this current fiscal year in addition to the city's portion int the next fiscal year. Alderman Frazier asked if we want to give aj percentage of our water away. Alderman Fernandez stated that he was also at the meeting, and he addressed several of his concerns. Alderwoman Ruby Vera made a motion to decline joining thel Medina County Regional Water Alliance.. Alderman Frazier seconded 9. Discuss/Consider amending Ordinance 11-1017; Hotel Occupancy Tax within the corporate limits and extra-territorial jurisdiction of the city; Amending the code of ordinances to add Article I. Hotel Occupancy Tax to Chapter 38 - Taxation; and providing for an effective date. Nichole explained that the city had passed an ordinance in 2011. The city attorney has reviewed and amended the ordinance. Alderwoman Ruby Vera made a motion to pass ordinance 11-1017. Alderman Smith seconded the motion. Motion 10. Discuss/Consider moving the July regular city council meeting date and providing a specific date. Alderman Frazier asked if we needed to have a July meeting. Nichole explained at this time no, but something may come up. Alderman Fernandez made a motion to have a meeting on July 22, 2024 ifa meeting is necessary, if not we will cancel the July meeting. Alderwoman Selica Vera seconded the 11. Discuss/Consider site lease agreement between T-Mobile West LLC. and the City of Natalia. Nichole explained the draft agreement tot the council. Nichole would like the city attorney to review the agreement. Alderman Fernandez made a motion to approve the agreement pending the attorney review. Alderman  Alderman Fernandez seconded the motion. Motion carried; 5-0.  the motion. Motion carried; 5-0.  carried; 5-0.  motion. Motion carried; 5-0.  Smith seconded the motion. Motion carried; 5-0.  12. Adjournment: Alderman Fernandez made a motion to adjourn at 8:15 pm. Alderwoman S. Vera  seconded the motion. Motion carried; 5-0.  3    Passed and approved this 19th day of August 2024.  Attest:  Approval:  - Tommy Ortiz, Mayor/ lorl Sam Smith, Mayor Pro-Tem  Nichole M. Bermea Allonc CeHAaminstato/Seceay  4