Minutes of September 17,2019  Page 1  The Board of Commissioners for the City of Alamo, Texas met for the Regular Meeting on Tuesday September 17,2019 at 7:00 p.m, at the City of Alamo Municipal Building.  COMMISSION PRESENT: Mayor Diana Martinez Robert De La Garza, Mayor Pro-Tem Trino Medina, Commissioner Pete Morales, Commissioner Pilar Garza, Commissioner  COMMISSION ABSENT:  STAFF PRESENT: Robert L. Salinas, Interim City Manager Rick Palacios, City Attorney Alexandra Rangel, City Secretary Roy Contreras, Fire Chief Alicia Cano, Human Resources Julio Villarreal, Public Works Director Melissa Leal, Utilities Supervisor  Michael Torres, ITI Director Rogelio Alaniz, Interim Police Chief Adela Perez, Purchasing Agent Melisa Gonzales, Special Projects Rosie Rodriguez, Accountant  I.  CALL MEETING TO ORDER  Mayor Diana Martinez called the first regular meeting held on Tuesday, September 17, 2019toorder at 7:00p.m. at the CityofAlamo. Municipal Building. Mayor Diana. Martinez  led the Pledge of4 Allegiance and Melisa Gonzales led the. Invocation.  . Presentations and Announcements  Melisa Gonzales, Special Projects Director announced the unveiling ofthe renaming. for the Police and Fire Department. In addition, National Night Out on September 28 from Spm-8pm at the PSJA Memorial HighSchool: and the Fire Prevention. Rally on October 2nd from 6pm-8pm at Peter Piper. Pizza. Just a reminder our Census 2020 information will be out. soon, and we ask for businesses and the community to spread the word. Commissioner Pete Morales invited the public to the Alamo Chamber network night on D. Consideration and action to approve the minutes for the first meeting of September Mayor Pro-Tem De La Garza to approve, and Commissioner Pete Morales motioned At this time, Mayor. Diana Martinez addressed item O. Presentation by Hidalgo County Precinct I Commissioner David. Fuentes on drainage projects. from 2018. Drainage Bond. E. Consideration and action to extend the TML-IRP Insurance for Property, Liability Interim City. Manager. Robert Salinas stated that the TML-IRP. Insurance has increased. by Mayor Pro-Tem De La Garza to approve, and Commissioner Pilar Garza motioned  Thursday, from 6pm-8pm at the Zion Lutheran Church.  03,2019.  seconded. Motion carried.  and Workers Comp. Insurance for FY: 2019-2020. 5%from last year due to additional vehicles.    Minutes of September 17,2019  Page2  G. Consideration and action on a request from the Alamo Chamber to utilize the Central Mayor Diana Martinez stated no action on this item since the. Alamo Chamber decided to host their event on Thursday October 17, 2019, which was previouslyapproved. H. Consideration and action on an ordinance amending the code of ordinances of the City of Alamo, Title 5 Police Regulations, Chapter 6 Animals; by creating section 5- 6-10 Regulation of Sale OfAnimals and section 5-6-11 Cruelty to. Animals Prohibited. Mimi Reyes spoke on the continuous problem oft the selling of animals at the Mercadome. Interim City Manager Robert Salinas stated this ordinance will prohibit the sale ofanimals Mayor Pro-Tem Robert De La Garza asked will there be time to notify the owner. Interim City. Manager Robert Salinas responded that he will talk to the owner of the flea  Park area for a BBQ event on Thursday October 10, 2019.  within flea markets and along roads.  market to notify his tenant regarding the new ordinance. Commissioner Pete Morales asked how will this be policed.  Interim City. Manager. Robert Salinas responded citizens can call the police department Mayor Pro-Tem. Robert De La Garza motioned. to approve, and Commissioner, Pilar Garza  seconded. Motion carried.  - Consideration and action on an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Weslaco for Interim City Manager Robert Salinas stated the City of Alamo currently has a contract with Palm Valley that will expire at the end of the month. Both the City of Weslaco and Palm Valley have submitted contracts, Palm Valley has submitted a cost of$125,000 for the year. Ifthe contract is proceeded with the City ofWeslaco, the city will. save $45,000.  animal control operations and impoundment.  Commissioner Pete Morales asked how much has the city spent to date  Interim City Manager. Robert Salinas responded over $125,000, the city has gone over by Commissioner Pete Morales asked are the possums. still been released and ifso, where Interim City Manager Robert Salinas responded yes and released to rural areas Commissioner Trino Medina motioned to approve, and Mayor Pro-Tem Robert De La J. Consideration and action to approve the City Manager's appointment of a new  36 animals and each animal is $105.  Garza seconded. Motion carried.  m  City  A    Minutes of September 17, 2019  Page 3  Interim City Manager Robert Salinas responded no, there were only two applicants and he was the only, one with the required. licenses. The other was Ernesto Solis, who currently Mayor Pro-Tem Robert De La Garza motioned to approve, and Mayor Diana Martinez  works with the city and we are looking to train him.  seconded.. Motion carried.  K. Consideration and action to award the depository bank contract proposal. Interim City Manager Robert Salinas stated because we have always had a bank in the city ofAlamo, the City has never had to go out to contract a bank. The city asked. IBC, however IBC responded that they are unable to work with the city. Due to that, the City had to go Frost bank currently offereda. 25% discount to bank related fees and. 3 months offeeswere Lone Star National Bank offers a floor interest rate of.25% and cap interest of2.00% Plaines Capital Bank offers a competitive rate of1.80% with aj floor rate of.80%  out for bids.  waived. No maximum and no minimum floor and cap.  Rio bank did not offer rates nor did Texas National Bank  Based on the fees, and even though Texas National Bank waived their fees, Texas National Banks nearest location is in Mercedes. Overall, it will be cheaper cost through. Frost Bank. Besides the charges the banks offered, the distance was also looked for daily deposits. Mr. Salinas stated based on the numbers his recommendation is Frost Bank. Commissioner Pilar Garza asked what did. Plains Capital charge  Interim City Manager Robert Salinas responded, their fees were $14,040 VS. Frost Bank Mayor Pro-Tem Robert De La Garza asked if any of the banks showed interest in  $10,507.  developing a bank in Alamo  Interim City. Manager. Robert Salinas responded no Commissioner Pete. Morales. seconded. Motion carried.  Commissioner Trino Medina motioned to approve to go with Frost Bank, and  Public Hearing  Second Public Hearing on Proposed Tax Rate of $0.5817/S100.00 Valuation for the City of Alamo for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 and Schedule  ai meeting to adopt the 2019-2020 Tax Rate.  No public comments were made during the public hearing at this time  L. Consideration and action for the use of the parking area at the Sgt. Fernando De La Interim City Manager Robert Salinas stated at the moment South Texas ISD uses the parking lot for pick-up and drop-off South Texas ISD is requesting the usage. for their Edinburg and. Mercedes Campus as well. Mr. Salinas stated there has not been an official approval, which is why he decided to bring it to the commissionj for approval.  Rosa Memorial Library by South Texas ISD.    Minutes of September 17, 2019  Page 4  Mayor Diana Martinez motioned to approve, and Mayor Pro-Tem Robert De La Garza N. Consideration and action to approve an ordinance authorizing the issuance, sale and delivery of City of Alamo, Texas General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2019; delegating certain authority to the Mayor and City Manager pursuant to the provisions of Texas Government Code, Sections 1207.007 and 1207.008; levying a continuing direct annual ad valorem tax; authorizing the refunding of certain outstanding obligations; approving an official statement, execution of an escrow agreement, the subscription and purchase of certain escrowed securities, and making other provisions regarding such bonds and matters incident thereto Mr. Jesus Ramirez stated this is the. first time the city uses this option as a delegating authority. Ifthe market produces the right parameters and those parameters are developed by thej financial advisers. It allows for the city to check the market numbers and it allow to  seconded. Motion carried.  authorize refunding.  Commissioner Trino Medina asked why isn' 't the council deciding on this?  Mr. Jesus Ramirez. stated) you are not deciding, what is happening is that you are allowing the Mayor to go into the market and approving on an interest. Which allows to continue to Mayor Pro-Tem Robert De La Garza motioned to approve, and Mayor Diana Martinez 0. Presentation by Hidalgo County Precinct1 Commissioner David Fuentes on drainage Precinct 1 Commissioner David Fuentes presented on how the June 2018 rain caused fooding issues for Hidalgo County and prompted a drainage bond. He stated one goal of Precinct 1 is to have engagement within the first 3 years. He states at the moment all Raul Sesin. HCDD #1 General Manager presented on current, projects. First project is the Alamo. Expressway. Drain. Extension is being expanded. From South. 12 to Old business 83 and from I2 North to the Alamo Country Club. Second, Alamo Expressway Drain consist ofa new reinforced. structure and should be done by the end of the year. Third, Crockett Road. and Drainage Improvements. This project is being designed to make improvements from Tower Road to Border Road, from a 2-lane to a 3-lane. Fourth, is the excavation of the detention facilities at Santos Livas and. Zeferino Farias Elementary Schools. Commissioner Pete Morales thanked County Commissioner David Fuentes and District Commissioner Pete Morales asked where are they with the interlocals with the school Interim City Manager Robert Salinas responded all interlocals have been signed.  check the market and not having to present it to the council.  seconded. Motion carried.  projects from 2018 Drainage Bond.  projects have an engineer assigned and continue to be active.  General Manager. Raul Sesinj for their work. and efforts.  district    Minutes of September 17,2019  Page 5  seek additional grant funding to help, for construction to help cities develop preventable flooding. Healso stated, proposition 81 will be upforv vote in November and seeking support  from the community.  Commissioner Pete Morales asked ifthis will be in Mr. Fuentes website Mr. Sesin responded it can be, he also stated as reminder. this is not ai new tax Precinct 1 Commissioner David. Fuentes confirmed this not a new tax, this funding is from Commissioner Trino Medina stated this was helpful because he was unaware if this Mayor Pro-Tem De La Garza to approve, Mayor Diana Martinez motioned seconded.  ai rainy-dayj fund from the state ofTexas proposition was a new tax. Motion carried.  Presentation of AEDC Monthly Report.  Rafael Tapia AEDC Director presented on the program, the program made a total of10 loans totaling $1,405,000 and obligated $1,162,500 in initial funds. The program has 4  active loans. AIl current loans fall under the IRP.  As of September 3, 2019, City of Alamo Finance Department reports:  IRP Balance: $855,942.75 RBEG. Balance: $184,917.54 Total. RLF Balance: $1,040,860.29  Balance Owed: $212,215.02 (as of September 5, 2019) As ofthe September 1, 2019, all accounts were considered current.  He stated the following activity is for the period covering August 1, 2019 to August 30, 2019. For the reporting period, the program had 1 new contact and 1 reinitiated contact. He stated there will be a new social media campaign to give out T-shirts and to, promote Commissioner Pete. Morales asked. Mr. Arpan Bhakta from La Quinta asked what else can Rafael Tapia AEDC. Director responded he will reach out to Mr. Bhakta and will provide  the city.  be done to. help promote.  contacts to help him develop the area. R. Presentation of Departmental Reports. comments from the City Commission.  Departmental Report presentations were included in the commissioners packet, no  CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: Five minutes per person with no response from the City  Commission. Residents must sign up prior to the city meeting. Eddie Vega spoke regarding City Ordinances Martha Vega spoke regarding City Ordinances  T. ADIOTTRNMENT    Minutes of September 17, 2019  SATe  AMO, TEXP