Minutes of March 02, 2021 Pagel  The Board of Commissioners for the City of Alamo, Texas met for the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, March 02, 2021 at 6:00 p.m, att the City of Alamo Municipal Building.  COMMISSION. PRESENT: Mayor Diana Martinez Okie Salinas, Mayor Pro-Tem Petel Morales, Commissioner Pilar Garza, Commissioner Robert Del La Garza, Commissioner STAFF PRESENT: Robert L. Salinas, City Manager Rick Palacios, City Attorney Alexandra Rangel, City Secretary Richard Ozuna, Police Chief Roy Contreras, Fire Chief  COMMISSION. ABSENT:  Ronnie Cruz, City] Engineer Sergio Zavala, CPD Director  I.  CALL MEETING TO ORDER Allegiance and Robert Salinas led the Invocation. C.P Presentations and Announcements. appreciation begins Thursday at. 3pm.  Mayor Diana Martinez called the regular meeting held on Tuesday March 02, 2021 to order at 6:00 p.m. at the City of Alamo Municipal Building. Mayor. Diana Martinez led the Pledge of Mayor. Diana Martinez thanked the Alamo. Museum for the reception last Thursday and thanked City Manager Robert Salinas for attending, and added a reminder regarding the Texsd Independence Parade which begins Saturday at 11:00am. In addition, our Winter Texan Fire Chief Roy Contreras announced the Fire Department was awarded a grant of 810,000) from Hidalgo County District 4 for wild land in combination with education with the staff City Manager Robert Salinas announced the city and are planning af food distribution this coming Wednesday at 9am it will be held at the Volunteer Fireman' 's Park, we have not received aj flyer we will receive it aj few days before. This is not only for Alamo residents, it will be open, for  everyone.  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked who is organizing it?  City Manager Robert Salinas responded RGV. Food Bank, HEB and the City of Alamo. HEB  donated 4 pallets of water.  Commissioner, Petel Morales asked ify we can. send a cardi to them  City Manager Robert Salinas responded we usually, send a thank) you with pictures of the event. D. Consideration and Action to approve the minutes for the second regular meeting of Commissioner Pete Morales motioned to approve, and Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas seconded. E.P Presentation regarding a grant program to offer mortgage assistance through the' Texas Mr. Francisco Briones presented on as grant program, this program will bej funded by the CARES Act through the state. The amount of minimum funding is $200,000 and a maximum $500,000, these funds will be used to assist families iny need and up to 61 months. The deadline is April 2nd, he  February 16, 2021. Motion carried.  Department of Housing and Community Affairs.  asks fort the city to publish a public hearing.    Minutes ofN March 02, 2021 Page2 2  City Manager. Robert Salinas stated this will be similar to what was done with the EDC, that was also rental assistance and this is strictly mortgage assistance. Our next steps will be a public hearing on March 16 our second meeting and RFP and the possibility ofa special meeting. Mr Francisco Briones asked the commission) for next meeting to have an amount to request. City Manager Robert Salinas asked is this as grant? Are we requesting funds after we. spend it, or Mr. Francisco Briones responded he has not received instructions, once the families have been identified then a request to the state to notify the mortgage company to make ap payment. Mayor Diana Martinez. stated this is only if they are behind on the mortgage?  are we getting the money in and thent utilizing it?  Mr. Francisco. Briones responded yes  F. Presentation regarding submittals of Intended Use Plans to the Texas Water Mr. Orlando Cruz presented this project is through the Texas Water Development Board under thes state revolvingf funds, these funds arel Environmental, funds that come from the government and these funds have subdivision interest and there is a loan forgiveness, once a year the water development board requests applications from cities all through out Texas tos submit their projects for funding under the Intended. Use Plan and TCEQ will grade and rank them and historically projects that ranked will receive up to. 50%1 loanj forgiveness. Based ons si@frecommendation they looked into the water treatment, plant and one lifs station located on Tower Rd. We have looked into the water plant that is7 roughly 20 years old which are low in cost but high in maintance cost over thej years there are several issues because much oft the metal is beginning to deteriorate. Also, wel looked into capacity and the state actually looks into how many connections are in the. system. The City ofAlamo has roughly 4,8000 connections which are selfr reporting, but through. staffit was found an amount of falmost 6,000 connections and based on the state requirement 's the plant is out ofcapacity. We have looked at plants in the past such as the one in San Juan, this plant had to have several renovations similar to Alamo's Plant. We are looking into an expansion and renovation, currently the plant is rated at a 5million gallons a day but it is being laid out to be doubled orj youd can add ha/f2.5 million. Within our predictions and assume a 298 growth, and the expansion of2.5 million it can take you to another 15 years. We are looking at a cost of $7.5 million. This is one project we are looking into taking tot the state and obtaining grant funding. In addition, we are looking to the lif station part of the wet well is in the Alley and part of the lift station is on the ROW. One oft the issues is the odor, and the staffs set up an odor reader and the result stated there are 800mg per liter. In order to redirect lines, it will cost roughly at $1.6 million. Ifthe project is ranked, the city can be invited to apply for these applications that have been extended until next week: The City of San. Juan invested over $25 million but received on average of 30% ofs grant assistance, at end it does depend how. much the. state receives, from the City Manager Robert Salinas stated within the packet Cruz-Hogan. submitted. an ACR, what willit Mr. Orlando Cruz responded they way the state says on how the capacity has to be has nothing to do with how much you are treating, they use what they call a. .61 rule, .6 gallons per minute per connection to the size ofs your plant. The. .6 rule is used. state wide by TCEÇ, it does not apply everywhere. In the valley wet use less ofa connection compared to larger cities such as Dallas, but we can do a. .57. there are consequences ifyou do not have) your plant up to size.  Development Board for City Water and Sewer infrastructure.  EAP.  take you to do that for the city?    Minutes ofN March 02,2 2021 Page3  City Manager Robert Salinas stated hes wants to get away from the possible moratorium side ofit, he does not want to stun development. In addition, as for the lifts station we have set funds aside through CDBG-MIT and this would be a catch alli in case) funding does not come in.  Mr. Orlando Cruz responded there will be a new odor system. Commissioner, Pete. Morales asked when will be getf feed back  Mr. Orlando Cruz responded. since the application is due next week, ranking will be defined by late summer and adopt by November and if ranked then they will begin to invite cities to apply. There will always be loan money but what we are looking, for is the loan forgiveness money. Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked Mr. Salinas ifthis something he can begin to) prepare himself  incase we receive any funding and figure out a plan toj fund the plant. City Manager. Robert Salinas stated) hej just needs thej final numbers members off financial consultants and bond counsels. Commissioner Pete. Morales asked how oldi is the plant City Manager. Robert Salinas responded roughly 20) years  Mr Orlando Cruz responded his team will put the application together and it will take team  Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas stated we all saw what happens when we do not have water Mr. Orlando Cruz. stated hez understands the generator went out, that is a 20-year-old generator Commissioner Robert De La Garza responded that is not a 20-year-old generator, that was  installed afterwards.  City Manager Robert Salinas responded correct, but it does have its years Commissioner Robert De La Garza asked are wes still! paying for the water plant? City Manager Robert Salinas responded yes because wei refinanced fort the next 10j years. Commissioner Robert De La Garza: stated we will have to incur that amount have to check with ourj financial advisor toj find ways to save money. Commissioner, Pete Morales. stated at the same time not toz raise taxes. Commissioner Robert De La Garza responded we will have toi increase our rates City Manager. Robert Salinas responded he will come up with a plan before the summer Commissioner Pete Morales stated when he toured the plant he was. surprised on status G. Updated Mayoral Declaration of Local State of Disaster Due to Public Health City Manager Robert Salinas stated as oft today Governor. Abbot filed a new Executive Order that will lift all of thei restrictions that where implemented by, next Wednesday. We are still reviewing with legal to see what the city can and can' 't do. Within the city's declaration, there will be an increase ofb business establishments to 75%1 but by Wednesday 100% as well parks, museums, bars  City Manager Robert Salinas responded as mentioned by Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas we will  Emergency.  etc. this willl be until next Wednesday. March 10".  Commissioner Pete Morales asked are wes still utilizing our bike patrol    Minutes ofN March 02, 2021 Page 4  Police Chief Richard Ozuna responded at the moment not ata 100% capacity  Commissioner Pete Morales stated now that the parks will be opening up at least we can use a police presence. Iknow this works because during baseball season we had a break in and then Police Chief Richard Ozuna responded he agrees with the commissioner and will begin to have Commissioner Pete Morales asked Robert Salinas regarding Parks and. Rec. and ifhe has spoken with Steven regarding sports, he knows the older kids are easier to control and asked ifhe has City Manager Robert Salinas responded) yes, hei is working withl PSJA tot utilize their buildings and Commissioner Pete Morales asked has he spoken with TAF andi whether they will be having their  nothing.  additional officers trained. come up with a plan.  mentioned. he has meeting with them in mid-March.  sporting event?  City Manager Robert. Salinas responded he is not. sure Commissioner Pete Morales responded these are the. summer games  City Manager Robert Salinas responded he is not. sure. since everything is up in the air, we can Commissioner Pete Morales responded maybe he can present to us on the next meeting on what Commissioner Pilar Garza stated based on the Governor's lifted mask mandate, that is not City Manager Robert Salinas responded the Governor is lifing everything including guidelines and we' II continue to work with legal to make sure we are doing everything we can within the Commissioner Pete Morales motioned to approve, and Commissioner Pilar Garza seconded. H. Consideration and Action to Request use of Downtown Central Park to host a Winter Texan Appreciation Drive-Thru, Thursday, March 04,2021 from 3:00pm-4:30pm. Commissioner Pete Morales motioned to approve, and Commissioner Robert De La Garza  planj fori itl but it can change anytime.  is happening  following CDC guidelines. Governor' 's order Motion carried.  seconded. Motion carried.  Consideration and Action to approve Resolution 07-03-21 for the submission of grant application to' Texas State Library & Archives Commission for the Sgt. Fernando Del La Rosal Memorial Library toi implement the Alamo Community Literacy Initiative. Library Director Lori Solis presented on a potential grant to be approved, this grant will provide 20 community libraries that will be distributed through out the city and then expand it to all the Commissioner Robert De La Garza motioned to approve, and Commissioner Petei Morales J. Consideration and Action to approve the foundation cost for the Alamo Recycle Center. City Manager. Robert Salinas stated we had three quotes for the foundation work, with Solis  schools, this has a tentative budget of $29,000 with $0 match.  seconded. Motion carried.  Concrete Works being the lowest at $17,880.    Minutes of March 02, 2021 Page5  Mayor. Pro- Tem Okie Salinas asked with the addition oft thes grant, is that! part of the $17,000? City Manager. Robert Salinas responded no, that portion came out to $6,000 Mayor Diana Martinez motioned to approve, and Commissioner Robert De La Garza seconded. K. Consideration and Action on the Selection of Engineer for thel Risk Resilience Assessment (RRA): and Emergency Response Plan (ERP) fort the City's Water Plant. City Manager Robert Salinas stated this is ai requirement that) we are needing to submit by. June we) had 5 different frms submit, they were ranked by our staff and our consulting city engineer in  Motion carried.  ranking order:  1. Enprotec Hibbs & Todd 2. AARC Consultants 3. Freese & Nichols 4. IMEG Corp. 5. Urban Engineering complete the project. seconded. Motion carried. Public Hearing Ruben Hernandez. No citizen participation.  He is recommending to be able to speak with the top 3 firms in order to negotiate the best pricing for RRA and the ERP and) hopefully by the next meeting we can the engineer select to Commissioner Robert. De La Garza motioned to approve, and. Mayor Pro- Tem Okie Salinas Public Hearing on an Ordinance for Conditional Use] Permit for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages for onsite consumption at' Pollo's Asados Nuevo Leon #1'; being at 434 Tower Hills, Alamo, Texas; legally described as Lot 2, Tower Gardens Amended; Applicant is  L. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance for Conditional Use Permit for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages for onsite consumption at Pollo's Asados Nuevo Leon #1'; being at 434 Tower Hills, Alamo, Texas; legally described as Lot 2, Tower Gardens Amended;  Applicant is Ruben Hernandez. City Manager Robert Salinas respondedj yes  Commissioner Pete. Morales askedi is this within the city limits?  Planning Director, Sergio Zavala stated the Board of Commissioners of the City of Alamo, Texas finds that during consideration of the conditional use permit request of February 17, 2021, the Planning and Zoning Commission ofthe CityofAlamo, upona ac duly recognizedi motion and: second, voted toz recommend to the Board of Commissioners that the Conditional Use Permit shown below bes granted subject to the specific conditions shown below. Thel Boardo ofCommissioners oft the City of Alamo, held a public hearing at 61 p.m. Monday, March 02, 2021, in the Council Chambers of  the City Hall to consider thej following conditional use permit.  Staff! Recommendations: 1. Repaint parking lot lines 2. Repair/paint wood fence buffer 3. Comply with. Sign Code (banners) 4. BBQing to be w/in venteds structure 5. Approvej for 1 year; re-assess next) yr 6.3 Comply with TABCr regulations  Commissioner Pete Morales asked until what time will they be open?    Minutes of March 02, 2021 Page 6  Planning Director Sergio Zavala responded Tuesday- Sunday 10am-10pm, closed Monday Commissioner Robert De La Garza motioned to approve, and Mayor Pro- Tem Okie Salinas M. Consideration and Action tos select members to the Zoning Board of Adjustment City Manager. Robert Salinas stated we had an executive item to discuss the creation of the Zoning Board of Adjustment back in 1995 now we are here to select the members no less than 51 with 2  seconded. Motion carried.  alternates.  Mayor Diana Martinez asked can we appoint our P& Zb board City Manager. Robert Salinas responded yes Commissioner Pete Morales appointed. Joe Castillo Commissioner Pilar Garza appointed. Leonel Alvarado Mayor Pro- Tem Olie Salinas appointed Tommy Moncivais Commissioner. Robert De La Garza appointed Omar Guerra Mayor Diana Martinez appointed Raul Garza  City Attorney Rick Salinas asked ift the commission would like to add 2 alternates? Planning Director Sergio Zavala responded it would bez more benefecial Commissioner. Pete Morales appointed. Albert Rodriguez as an alternate Commissioner Robert De La Garza appointed. Joseph Sweet as an alternate  City Attorney. Rick Salinas asked Mayor tor make ai motion with all the names to goj for the record. Mayor Diana Martinez motioned to approve all the names and the alternates, and Commissioner N. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 10, 10-3-3(A)(I), 10-5-2, 10-5A-2(A), 10-5B-2(A), 10-6-4(A), and 10-6-4 (C) to establish building setback Planning Director Sergio Zavala stateds staff discussed with P&Z to) perhaps consider establishing reasonable 'open carport setbacks'.. A draft ordinance was presented to P&Z, and they approved itwith af few changes to be amended to include thej following revisions as a Permitted Use' in the R-1 Single Family Dwelling District, Senior Housing Residential District and Senior Housing Residential. Mobile Home District. In a subdivision that is no older than twenty (20). years from the date ofa carport being proposed within the setbacks and. said. subdivision has less than. 50% ofi its lots built-out and residentially occupied, then the desired open carport shall, follow the typical variance request public hearing process. However, once the. subdivision that is less than 20) years old has al built-out occupancy of 50%+, then alls subsequent and applicable open carport requests may follow the protocol of subsection (c) or subdivisions older than 20 years where infringement is proposed, an open carport building permit will be subject to the following 3. The side yard building setback. shall be, or substantially comply with, the minimum 5' side  Robert De La Garza. seconded. Motion carried. parameters open carport structures.  regulations:  1. Lots shalll be residentially zoned or7 residentially used.  2. Thej front) yard building setback for open carports shall be no less than. 5!.  yard building setback.    Minutes of March 02, 2021 Page7  b) ifan open carport is proposed with a side setback. less than. 5'to 2.5, then the prevailing fire-rating building codes can be administratively imposed, as applicable. ifan open carporti is proposeda atas sides setback less than 2.5, then thef full variance public hearing process shall be activated to assess appropriateness, regardless of the age ofthe 4. The rear yard building. setback for open carports that have rear (alley) access, the minimum 5. On corner side yard setbacks, an open carport's support column shall not be less than five 6. The Board of Commissioners has adopted Building Codes to be applied as structural circumstances warrant. Within said building codes are specific fire- rating regulations to maximize fire protection to Alamo structures, inclusive of structures that may be at, or very near, side property lines. With this backdrop, the Board of Commissioners hereby declares thats should there be an open carport, oraportion thereof, which is within the: zoning district's setback regulation, the setback may be processed pursuant to prevailing fire-rating 7. Hereafter, any open. carport shall be constructed over a concrete or asphalt surface interfacing to either the paved street and/or the residence's primary driveway. 8. Construction: materials and color tones willz match, ors substantially match, the primary home's aesthetics. Itis declared that a canvas-type roof that is taut to its supporting steel) frame may be permitted; however, its color shall match, as much as reasonably possible, the primary Should the desired open carport be proposed in a subdivision that has a bona fide Homeowners. Association (HOA), then the City of Alamo will provide a courtesy 'Notice' to said HOA if the HOA consistently provides up-to-date contact data of who their HOA Presidemtrepresenatve is. However, the City of Alamo stresses that private HOA approval 10. Nop pre-fabricated carports shalll be permitted on subdivisions that are less than 10j years old; however, such pre-fab carports may be permitted in older subdivisions. A pre-fab carport, usually maded ofsteel and aluminum. sheet-typer material, can be approved through the building permit process if sub-sections 1 through 9 above are complied with or the intent ofs such subsections are. substantially complied with; and, when approved, the pre-fab carports' color Itis declared that perpetual open carport shelters for residential apartments may be constructed within thej front yard with a building. setback ofr no less than tenj feet (10). Commissioner Pete Morales motioned to approve, and Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas 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 arangel@alamotexas.org Five minutes per person with no response from the City Commission. Albert Cazares spoke on donating Palm Trees to the City of Alamo to help afier the Winter Storm  subdivision. feet (5).  setback. shalll be, or substantially. be, fivef feet (5).  regulations and the established policies herein.  color oft the residence.  isnotr mandatory toward the City's permit issuance process.  will match the color of the primary residence.  2. In the R-2 Duplex, Multi-Family, Townhouse and Apartment District  Motion carried.  Residents must sign upi prior tot the city meeting.  Herb Moering spoke on the history of the Battle of Alamo Citizens are encouraged to sign the attendance sheet.  - ADJOURNMENT  There being noj further business, Mayor Diana Martinez adjourned the meeting at 6:53 pm  Ames  ATTEST:    Minutes of March 02, 2021 Page8 8  LAMO  usnyp  ALAMO