Minutes ofJ January 05,2021 Pagel 1  The Board of Commissioners for the City of Alamo, Texas met for the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, January 05, 2020 at 7:00p.m, at the City of Alamo Municipal Building.  COMMISSION: PRESENT: Mayor Dianal Martinez Okie Salinas, Mayor Pro-Tem Robert. De La Garza, Commissioner Pilar Garza, Commissioner STAFF PRESENT: Robert L. Salinas, City Manager Cris Palacios, City Attorney Alexandra Rangel, City Secretary Richard Ozuna, Police Chief Roy Contreras, Fire Chief  COMMISSION ABSENT: Pete Morales, Commissioner  Ronnie Cruz, City Engineer  I.  CALL MEETING TO ORDER Allegiance and Cris Palacios ledi the Invocation. C. Presentations and Announcements. February Sth they will have their grand opening. Vela to administer the vaccines to our first responders.  Mayor Diana Martinez called the regular meeting held on Tuesday. January 05, 2021 to order at 7:00 p.m. at the City of Alamo Municipal Building. Mayor Diana Martinez led the Pledge of Mayor Diana Martinez announced on. January 16lh Freedom Bank will be opening and the on Commissioner Robert De La Garza thanked. Mayor Diana Martinez) for working together with Dr. D. Consideration and Action to approve the minutes for the second regular meeting of Commissioner Pilar Garza motioned to approve and Commissioner Robert De La Garza E. Updated Mayoral Declaration of Local State of Disaster Due to Public Health City Manager Robert Salinas. stated this the 22nd Declaration we have fled for COVID-19, there are no changes since the last one. The county didi issue a curfew but that has expired on the 3rd Hes stated he wantedi to discuss the outdoor vendors, since Valentine' 's Day is coming up. This isa permit we offer for outdoor sales for vendors to be able to sell Valentine 's items. He states his opinion is not to offer only because iti is similar toi the garage. sales, ifiti is permitted then it should Mayor Diana Martinez stated Pastor, Tuttle wanted to speak regarding the garage. sales. Pastor Tuttle stated! people should be able toi have garage. sales since many oft them rely on garage Commissioner Pilar Garza stated the garage sales are okay. The problem was they were not Mayor Diana Martinez stated she had to call PD: several times because of this issue. One issue is the safety for the customers, the issue is the Valentine 's vendors. Where does this leave our flower City Manager Robert Salinas stated he has heard this problem from other cities as well, you) have a business renting as suite and paying taxes then you) have vendors who pay $10) for a permit and  December 15, 2020. seconded. Motion carried. Emergency.  be with the same protocols.  sales) for their income. wearing masks.  businesses in Alamo? they undercut them.    Minutes ofJ January 05, 2021 Page2 2  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas. stated do we know where they will set up?  City Manager Robert Salinas responded, yes, it is based on addresses. They are regular people who come in 30 days before Valentine 's day who) know the system and pick the address. He states  his concern is for the spread ofCOVID-19. Commissioner Pilar Garza asked are there al lot ofs spots  City Manager. Robert Salinas responded there are roughly 10-15 addresses. Commissioner Pilar Garza asked will there be set up on the streets? City Manager Robert Salinas responded at a parking area of an existing business.  Mayor Diana Martinez stated ifthey want to open a business why not open al business here rather Mr. Alberto Cortez statediti is not fair for aj fower business tol be open. 365 days paying employees, that is the best time oft thej year and we need toj protect our businesses. We cannot compare this to City Manager. Robert Salinas stated there is a difference ini this, the question here is because of COVID do we1 want tos stop it? He understands itd does affect existing businesses. This is something Mr Alberto Cortez stated that is the best day to sell flowers, permit costs should be higher: Mayor Diana Martinez asked ChiefOzuna) for an update on COVID-191 numbers. Chief Ozuna responded as ofyesterday afternoon at 4:05pm he had a total of11  than pay $10f for that day. ag garage. sale.  we need toi review, perhaps raise the permit fee.  Mayor Diana. Martinez mentioned we had 16 today.  City Manager Robert Salinas responded that was his concern about outdoor sales, another issue is thee extension oft the Family First Coronavirus Recovery. Act. This is basically what we have been utilizing to help pay people 2/3 payments and this ended on December 315 2020. They have a voluntary extension to March 31"2021. He states he was able to obtain a small survey. from Brownsville, Weslaco, Edinburg, Mission and South Padre Island. South Padre Island is only extending until. January 319 and the other cities are not continuing with payment. What it means is, ifsomeone is sick from COVID then they have to utilize their, sick/ vacation from their personal  bank.  Mayor Diana Martinez, stated. she wants to extendi it to March. 315.  City Manager. Robert Salinas responded the pro is we are keeping our employees home sO they Mayor Diana Martinez stated what happens ifthis individual does not have any days?  don' t come ini to work and infect others.  City Manager Robert Salinas responded then there is no payment. offering them we will pay: you 2/3 and notz use your time.  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas stated this will cover them instead ofusing their time, but it is not until they use all their time. He asked, right now we are having them use their time. We are not City Manager Robert Salinas responded they will be covered 2/3 and they will use their 1/3 of  their time fill in the rest.    Minutes ofJ January 05, 2021 Page3 2/3.  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked did this person in public works where they offred that? Because they are using all their time, now they have depleted all their time now you are covered City Manager. Robert Salinas responded that employee does not have time to utilize. City Attorney Cris Palacios stated the Federal Statue that expired, Family First Coronavirus Recovery. Acti what this created was an emergency, pay sick leave. In addition, it also extended the family medical leave act under the emergency pay sick leave an employee. from the city can take up to 80 hours for a COVID related reason. Under the extended family medical leave act an employee can take up to 12 weeks ifyou have to care for a child ifa child is unable to return to school because ofCOVID. This starteds since April 15' then ite expired on December 315, ifyou) have an employee who has exhausted this time as well, there are employees who have never used that bank. This is for employees who have not been able to use the extra leave, the other employees who have exhaustedi their time then they willl have to use their leave ifthey have to be out because Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas stated this particular employee used all his time on his own because  ofCOVID.  they) had COVID. Now the 2/3 will) kick in and cover his check. City Attorney Cris Palacios asked ifhez used all his time under the act?  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas responded no, they have COVID and cannot go to work and are CityAttorney Cris Palacios asked how didt they submit the paper work, ifthey did not notify anyone City Manager Robert Salinas responded he believes he did submit that it was COVID but he is City Attorney Cris Palacios stated if an employee got COVID between April 15' and December 315, then thate employee will get up to 80 hours, that is 2 weeks oft pay under that act.  going to use sick leave and vacation.  because ofCOVID, then the city wouldi not be able to know to use the bank.  unsure how long he has been out.  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked without using their bank? City Manager. Robert Salinas askedi is it weekly. 2/3?  City Attorney respondedj yes  City Attorney responded it depends for the reason, it depends what are they going inj for. Isitto Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas stated it should be cleared and he agrees with Mayor that it should be extended to March 31" for the employees. There are several employees who have might. not City Manager. Robert Salinas stated he will make sure. that we processed everything accordingly Mayor Diana Martinez asked regarding the Valentine' 's sales, are those people from. Alamo or  care for someone orj for themselves. Ifitisf for themselves then itis 100%.  have needed to use their sick and vacation hours. and ifi not, ity will be verified and fixed withj finance.  from out oftown?  City Manager Robert Salinas responded it can be open to anyone. Commissioner, Robert De La Garza asked do they pay, sales tax?  City Manager Robert Salinas responded we can look for as sub tax certificate, but chances are they  probably do not.  Commissioner Robert. De La Garza: stated: so the city misses out on the sales tax.    Minutes ofJ January 05, 2021 Page4 4  Commissioner Pilar Garza stated they. should bej from Alamo.  City Manager. Robert Salinas responded that is more ofo an ordinance, we can increase thej fee and Mayor Diana Martinez asked can we bring back the ordinance on the next meeting. Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas statedperhapsi this is the time tol looki intor revamping our ordinances. City. Manager Robert Salinas responded he forgot to mention during the amnouncement, a new planning director will be starting this Thursday to help us revamp our ordinances.  make it that they have to bej from. Alamo.  Mayor Diana Martinez asked what about the garage sales City Manager Robert Salinas responded iti is up to the Commission Mayor Diana Martinez, stated) her only issue is people not wearing their masks Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked has code-enforcement and PDj found any violations? City Manager Robert Salinas respondedj yes, since they are affordedthat) warning. After the second Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas stated Iagree with the vendors but as for garage sales iti is a way Mayor Diana. Martinez. stated she is against garage sales until the numbers go down. City Manager Robert Salinas responded, just for the record he will be adding the extension to  then it'sa ac citation.  for al lot ofpeople tor make money.  March. 31, and as for Valentine' 's vendors are we allowing it? Mayor Diana. Martinez responded it will be brought back at the next meeting City Manager Robert Salinas responded as of now it is ano. Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas ai no on the ordinance.  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas motioned to approved and Commissioner Pilar Garza seconded.  Motion carried.  Mayor Diana Martinez in dissent with allowing garage, sales. Richland Drive at] Ridge' Treasure Estates.  F. Consideration and action to approve an ordinance to reduce the speed limit along City Manager. Robert Salinas stated he had received a complaint regarding speeding. from a Ms. Garza, she sent an email not necessarily requesting a speed bump but rather making the public aware of the speed limit and a speed reduction. He stated he reviewed the ordinance and noticed there are, streets that have reduced speed and the majority of those are found ini the country club, the speed limit is 20 mph. This particular ordinance is for 20mph, it is up to the commission to Mayor Diana Martinez asked can we go 15mph? ifwe go 20, people will go 25mph.  decided.  City Manager Robert Salinas stated he can modify the ordinance for other streets, or should this be handled bye each subdivision.  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas stated) he approves the 15mph but asked if this can be looked into    Minutes ofJ January 19, 2021 Page5 5  drainage, landscaping, paving storage areas as well comply with past wrecker ordinance. The entire ordinance is based on the CUP andi its conditions, anyone who would like to apply for this in the commercial zone then they could apply. for this conditional use permit. We would send notices 200 feet around and do a public hearing. One thing he stated that needs to be modifiedis Commissioner Robert De La Garza motioned to approve Commissioner Pete Morales seconded. 0. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances, Title 10 Zoning Regulations to include Restaurants in the Permitted Uses in the Commercial Zoning District; toi include as a Conditional Use in the Commercial Zoning District the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages for On-site Consumption; and Amending the Definition of City Manager Robert Salinas stated Mr. Zavala is going through the ordinances and updating sections. In this particular ordinance he is changing the definition of Home Occupation and it currently does not make sense. He made restaurants a permitted use in commercial zone which was not in the zoning ordinance, he added the sale and on-site consumption within the CUP, removing the 300 foot requirement when it comes to restaurants. A few more changes will be Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas motioned to approve, and Commissioner Pilar Garza seconded. P. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Amending Title 3 Business and Licensing City Manager. Robert Salinas stated this was brought up int the last meeting, one ofitems discussed was the increase ofthep permit price, hei isproposing ani increase from S10to $300 that isas starting point. He states now an owner can set up. for outdoor sales within their property with no permit Commissioner Pete Morales asked can an owner ofaf flower shop set up in another property? City Manager Robert Salinas responded ifi's off site from the shop' 's property then they would  the CUP in a 447 mile buti it should be 1,000-foot separation.  Motion carried.  Home Occupation.  coming up. soon. Motion carried.  Chapter 11 Outdoor Sales.  requirement.  have toj pay the $300.  Mayor Diana Martinez stated several of these vendors are not Alamo residents  City Manager Robert Salinas responded that is correct, he stated a flower shop, from Pharr Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked who will enforce it? Since valentine' 's day, falls on a Sunday City Manager Robert Salinas responded ifit's on the weekend. PD, we will print out a list of the permits and give a copy to PD. Ifit's during the week then it will be Code Enforcement. Also, this  normally purchases 31 permits.  this year.  includes food associated with the holiday.  Commissioner Pilar Garza asked will the owners be notified about the changes  City Manager. Robert Salinas responded) yes  Mayor. Diana Martinez stated there is one flower shop on Bus. 83  City Manager Robert Salinas responded he believes two by the storage area on Alamo Rd.    Minutes of] January 19, 2021 Page6  Commissioner Pete Morales stated there is also ac candy. shop City Manager Robert Salinas respondedy yes that will work.  Mayor Diana Martinez motioned. to approve, and Commissioner Robert De La Garza seconded. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: The city will be accepting public comments from 8am-5pm on the day of the meeting to be announced during the meeting. Email comments to rangel@alamolexasorg Five minutes per person with no response from the City Commission.  Motion carried.  Residents must sign upi prior tot the city meeting.  Jesus Mendoza. spoke on the awareness. for Electro. Hyper Sensitivity.  I. ADJOURNMENT  Citizens are encouraged to sign the attendance sheet.  There being noj further business, Mayor Diana Martinez adjourned the meeting at 7:40 pm  sus  Mayor piy Diana  Secretary  fs