Thel Board of Commissioners for the City of Alamo, Texas met for thel Regular Meeting held on  Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., at the City of Alamo Municipal Building.  COMMISSION! PRESENT: Mayor. J.R. Garza Okie Salinas, Mayor Pro-Tem Petel Moreles, Commissioner Roel Leon] Moreno Jr, Commissioner AJ Garcia, Commissioner STAFF PRESENT: Robert L. Salinas, City Manager Rick Palacios, City Attorney Alex Oyoque, Museum Director Jose Tamez, Library Director Yvette Mendoza, Finance Director Ana Garza, Executive Assistant Sandra Chavez, Parks & Rec. Dir Adela Perez, Purchasing Agent Nina Chavez, Creative Producer Isauro Trevino, AEDC Consultant I.C CALLMEETING TOORDER  COMMISSION. ABSENT:  Alexandra Rangel, Assistant City Manager Sergio Zavala, Planning Director Ronnie Cruz, City Engineer Saul Solis, Alamo Police Chief Julio Villarreal Jr. Public Works Director Arturo Aguirre, HRI Director Melissa Leal, Water Billing Supervisor Lya Yllades, Public Information Director Efrain Vazquez, Interim Fire Chief  Mayor. J.R. Garza called the regular meeting held on Tuesday. July 2, 20241 to order at 6:00! p.m. at the City of Alamo Municipal Building. City Manager Robert L. Salinas led the Pledge of  Allegiance and Pastor Tuttle led the Invocation. Presentation and. Announcements  City, Manager. Robert L. Salinas. stated that the City of4 Alamo offices will be closed on. July 4"h, 2024 in observence for Independence Day. Also he informed everyone that we are Commissioner Pete Morales congratulated the Summer Tennis Program for their successful competition in McAllen and for bringing back medals. He recognized Hugo Ramirez, Ray Gonzalez, Chris Munoz, Ulises Quintanilla, Emilio. Rodriguez, Sofia Garcia, Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas invitede everyone tot the 4th ofJuly. Freedom. Bash on. July3rd 2024 from 4:30p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the. Alamo Sport Complex on the corner of Ridge Rd. and Tower Rd. We will have food, kiddie rides, beer garden, live music by Texas Storm, Commissioner Pete Morales thanked Commissioner Eddie Cantuj for coming on board for the Ridge Rd. Project. Alamo residents are very happy with the new road. Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas also thanked Commissioner Eddie Cantu and David Fuentes along with the City of Alamo Commission for coming together with these project for the Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas welcomed Commissioner Armando Garcia with the Cityof Parks and. Recreation Director Sandra Chavez presented the All Star Season coaches and players. They had 6 divisions that participated this) year andi the City Commission awarded them with medals. She also thanked the coaches, players and parents for their hard work D. Consideration and Action to Approve the minutes for a regular meeting on. June 18", Commissioner Pete Morales motioned: to approve, Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas seconded.  issuing. sand bags for the incoming bad weather Kayle Ruiz, Alondra Hernandez and Zina Torres. Brody. Rivers and Elida Reyna as well as fireworks.  City ofAlamo. Mercedes. and dedication. 2024. Motioned carried.    E. Consideration and Action to. Select a Contractor for the Alamo Fire. Station No. 1 City Manager. Robert L. Salinas stated that due to some legal questions he would like to have this Mayor. J.R. Garza announced at 6:44 that they will go to Executive session fori item E City Manager Robert L. Salinas stated that The City of Alamo solicited requests for proposals from professional contractors for the renovations to the Alamo Fire Station. No. 1. The City of4 Alamo advertised and requested RFPS on both May 29th and. June 5lh with the bid opening on. June 18h The proposals were received, reviewed, and graded by the city staff The  Renovations. item go to Executive Session.  Mayor J.R. Garza announced open session at 7:45p.m.  results are as follows; Company Herrcon, LLC SKOI Elite, LIC Riverline Contracting, LCC  Quote S544.463.15 S546.000.00 S667.000.00  Score 270 270 218 201  Synergy Development and Construction $455,000  Staffz used various criteria in determining the scores oft the firms, including experience and expeliise oft thej firm. The reason Synergy had a score of 270 was due to having the lowest quote and due toz not having any previous work with the City ofAlamo. The reason Herrcon, LIC hada score of2701 was due to having the second lowest quote and due to having previous experience with the City of Alamo. fyou will recall, the City had set aside $250,000 for this renovation contract, we have discussed this with our architect and are trying to. see where we might be able to value engineer the project to remove some the costs. Recommendation: Staff recommends negotiating with the lowest bidder tos see how we can, geto closer to the original cost estimate and ifwe are not able to come to an agreement, then wei recommend moving on to the next lowest bidder to. see ifthey would be willing to negotiate the pricing. This item is now beforey you. City Attorney. Rick. Palacios clarified that all the proposals were above what was budgeted for Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas motioned. to reject all bids andi rebid; Commissioner AJGarcia F. Consideration and Action to approve an Agent of Record for Insurance Services. City Manager. Robert L. Salinas stated that due tos some legal questions he would like to have this Mayor. J.R. Garza announced. at 6:441 that they will go to Executive session) for item F City Manager Robert L. Salinas stated that the City of4 Alamo went out for RFOs to seek out a new agent ofrecord, ini the last few) years we have noticed a significant increase in insurance premiums. The proposals were received, reviewed. and interview by the city staff The results are  the project.  seconded. Motion carried.  itemg go to Executive Session.  Mayor J.R. Garza announced open session at 7:45p.m.  as follows; Agency Lonestar Ortegon Ins SIG Jeffi Everitt  Score 265 263 249 231    Lety Garcia Newkirk & Newkirk  208 182  Staff used various criteria in determined the scores oft thej firms, including experience and the expertise ifthe firm. Staff's recommendation: Staff recommends Lonestar with the highest score. Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas clarified that this change is only for the health insurance. He continued by thanking Assistant City Manager Alexandra Rangel and Human Resources Director; Arturo Aguirre for taking the time and reviewing all the proposal Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas motioned. to go with the recommendation which is the Lonestar Insurance, Commissioner Pete Morales seconded. Motion carried.  This item is now before you.  G. Consideration and Action to granta 5-year extension to the Alamo Lions Club to sell City Manager. Robert L. Salinas stated that the Alamo Lions Club is requesting a 5-year extension for selling beer during the annual. July 4th Celebration. He invited the. Alamo Lions Alamo Lions Club Vice President Mely Villagomez introduced. herself and stated that they do fundraising to help out with. scholarships, eye-glasses, Iaptop etc. Everything that gets collected Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked iffor any reason the Alamo Lions Club is not able to City Attorney Rick Palacios answered that since they do not have a contract, they only have a consent thent they should not have any legal issues but it would be a goodi idea to create an MOU Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas motioned: to approve, Commissioner, AJC Garcia seconded. Motion H. Consideration and Action to approve on the purchase of Raw Water from Hidalgo City Manager. Robert L.. Salinas stated thate every. year as time goes on the City ofA Alamo tends to run low on water an in doing. so the city purchases additional water just tor make sure that we have enough throughout the year. He is asking toj purchase 1,000 acer feet ofi municipal water Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked if we ever had the need toj purchase more water that the City Manager Robert L. Salinas responded thati ifnot mistaken only once did they have the need Commissioner. AJGarcia clarified that this is done as aj precauttonary measure in case we need Commissioner Pete Morales suggested to create workshops to educate our citizens on how to Commissioner Pete Morales motionedi to approve, Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas seconded.  beer during the 4th ofJuly celebration.  Club representative to come up to the podium to say aj few words.  always come back to our community.  participate then what would be the protocol toj follow.  carried.  County. Irrigation. District No.2.  from Hidalgo County Irrigation District number 2.  additional water purchased.  to purchase additional water but it was about $30,0001 worth only. more water; not because we are currently out ofwater.  save water: Motion carried.  Consideration and Action to4 Approve a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") and the  Alamo Police Department.    Alamo. Police Chief Saul Solis stated that the City of Alamo Police Department would like to seek approval to enter into the MOUtO assign an officer to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosive (ATF) agency as a Task Force Officer (TFO), for the deterrence of illegal firearms trafficking and violent gun crime. The duties ofthe "TFO"will be investigate frearms trafficking, firearms related to violent crime, gather and report intelligence data relating to trafficking off firearms, and to conduct undercover operations where appropriate and engage in other traditional methods of investigation in order that the Task Force's activities will result in effective prosecution before the courts ofthe United. States and the State of Tèxas. A proposed Memorandum of Understanding "MOU" has been created and submitted. Recommendation, The Alamo Police Department: is seeking authorization to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding "MOU" by and between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives "ATF" andi the Alamo Police Department as it relates to the McAllen Task Force. Mayor J.R. Garza asked that ifanything that gets confiscated stays here ini the City ofAlamo Alamo Police Chief Saul Solis answered that the individual that is assigned to the taskj force Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked if that would affect the man power on the streets? Alamo Police Chief Saul Solis answered that in case that particular officer is needed in the Mayor. JR. Garza motioned to approve, Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas seconded.. Motion carried. J. Consideration and Action to) purchase 3. John Deere Z-Trak riding lawnmowers. for the Parks and Recreation Director Sandra Chavez stated that The Parks and. Recreation. Department isi ing great needo of3 more riding lawnmowers. The department currently has 3. Z-Trak riding lawnmowers that were purchased 2) years ago and an older 2018 Scag. These mowers are used every day and follow a certain schedule in order to: service all our 6parks and 7 buildings. The Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked if any oft the lamnmowers will be replace or are they adding Parks and Recreation, Director Sandra Chavez answered that they will be adding. Commissioner AJGarcia asked if1 Parks and Recreation Department borrows any lawnmowers Parks and Recreation Director Sandra Chavez answered: no but they do borrow other bigger Commissioner Pete Morales motioned to approve, Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas seconded. K. Discussion and Action to Appoimt/Re-appoimt members to the Parks and. Recreation City Manager. Robert L. Salinas stated that this item is to appoint or re appoint al lacking Mayor Pro-Tèm Okie Salinas stated that he hadi reached out to Santos Perez. Jr, unfortunately he Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas motion to appoint Pepe Forina, Commissioner Pete Morales  This item is now before you.  spear heads with the cases ofj federal government stay here.  street, they) willz be put back.  Parks and Recreation Department.  additional 3 riding lawnmowers would help service areas more. sufficiently.  lawnmowers?  from Public Works Department.  machinery that they dont have in their department.  Motion carried.  Board.  member. for the Parks and Recreation Board was unable to participate due to his work schedule.  seconded. Motion carried.    L. Discussion and Action to Re-affirm the Board of Commissioners' 2010 Action to allow a2md family residence at 938 S. Cesar Chavez Road, Alamo, Texas, as requested by Planning Director Sergio Zavala stated that the subject site is located 600' south of Ridge Road, along the east side of Cesar Chavez. Road. Mrs. Romero purchased the property in. July. 2008 when it was, at that time, outside Alamo's city limits. At that time, there was one mobile home on the property. In 2010, she asked to move-in her own double-wide mobile home on the same tract. Inr review oft the record, the matter was reviewed. by P&Z on 12/21/2010where they unanimously approved her request. Later; on the. same date (12/21/2010), the Boardo lofCommissioners. also unanimously approved her request. Fast forwardi to. June 2024, Alamo's Planning office has now been approached by Mrs. Romero to replace the double wide mobile home with a site-built residence. With the acreage annexed in 2012, the tract now has a Single family-dwelling (R-1) zoning district. The basic rule on R-1 tracts that have ag grandfathered right to double occupancy is that when one residential structure is removed, then another residence cannot be moved-in (or built) without ai recorded: subdivision. Be advised that in 2010, this same 'subdivision issue' was thes question brought before the boards where the P&Z and the BoandofCommisioners both voted unanimously to approve Mrs. Romero's request to allow her double-wide mobile home on thes same tract where a pre-existing mobile home existed. Mrs. Romero, an Army Veteran, describes the existing double-wide unit as being "deteriorated. significantly! However; what caught Planning's attention are her comments in the 3rd paragraph which is compelling: "Iti is essential for me to remain near my elderly sister; who lives next door: She suffers from Tpe 1 Diabetes. which often causes her blood sugar levels to drop to dangerously low levels, putting her at risk ofaj fatal heart attack. stroke or collapse. Ihave found her unconscious and unresponsive in her home on numerous occasions. Iam constantly checking on her to ensure her well-being. "Planning's Recommendation: Since the tract now has an R-1 zone. but functions under the. same Subdivision: regulations as it did when in the ETJ. Planning seeks your re- affirming 'Approval' to realize the. same effect, ie., 2j family structures on the. same property. This Mayor. Pro-Tem Okie Salinas motioned: to approve, Mayor. J.R. Garza seconded. Motion carried. M. Discussion and Action to accept Office of the Governor (00G). Homeland. Security Grant Program (HSGP) Operation Stone Garden (Hidalgo- 2023 OPSG) grant award in AEDC Consultant. Isauro Trevino stated that the 00G via E-grant awarded the City of Alamo Police Department $125,000 on. June 19th The grant was received and accepted via E-grants by the City Manager as the Authorized. Representative) for the O0G. The grant will cover over $82,000 inc overtime, two ATVs, and $3500 in related vehicle operating costs that include fuel andi maintenance. Grant instructions required the City to submit an application in the amount of $50,000, but Chief Solis, Captain Garza and Isubmitted: $75,000 toj justify an additional $25,000 for overtime to: subsidize the General Funde expenses. After review oft the grant in the amount of $75,000 by the 00G, Chiefs Solis and Captain Garza exercised. their sole discretion on forwarding additional narratives andi information in order to obtain additional funding for their department; therefore, grant award was in the amount of $125,000 for the Chiefs and Captain's Mayor Pro-Tem Okie Salinas asked Alamo Police Chief, Saul Solis, ifthey will have an issue in Alamo Police Chief stated that they are using the. side open carport for storage, hopefully once they build the new police station they' '1 have proper storage for all their vehicles. Commissioner Roel Leon Moreno. Jr: motioned to approve, Commissioner AJ Garcia seconded.  Veronica. De Leon Romero.  item is now before you.  Home Owner Veronica de Romero expressed their request.  the amount of $125,000  efforts.  regards to the storage of these new vehicles?  Motion carried.    N. Presentation and update on Alamo Five Fear Master Planj for planning and budgetary AEDC Consultant Isauro Trevino presented. the City ofa Alamo workplan and the five-year forecast executive summary. The Department Request overview included: the following;  purposes  Tostrategize and maximize resources effectivelys for the department! 's five year budget This involves condisctinh a detailed needs assessment, for personnel, supplies, services, Prioritizing critical areas and identifing potential cost-saving measures, such as bulk Implementing technology solutions, for efficient workflow management and maintennace scheduling can reduce operational costs. Regularly reviewing and adjusting the budget based onj performance metrics ande evolving needs wille ensure the department remains  plan, a comprehensive approach. should be employed. maintenance, and capital expenditures.  purchasing or shared services, can optimize resources allocation.  agile andj fiscally responsible. City's Strategic Vision Develop our Story What we "Plant to Do" Sustainable Government Strategies Educational; planning and financing Financing: "How we Plan to Provide"  He also included the Engage and Educate strategies that are as follows;  Planning: Provide analytical instrument for review and consideration, for Five Year plan.  Goal: Share. specific information and needs to align with vision Outcome: Create Five Year Forecast (One Year and Step at a TIME)  Commissioner, AJGarcia suggested thati it would be wise to create a. survey to gather ideas form AEDC Consultant Isauro Trevino noted that we have acquired the SurveyMonkey tool and we 0. Discussion and Action on approval of Letter of Advocacy to House Committee on Appropriations, for Fiscal Year 2025 Community. Project Funding via District 15 recommendation, for USDA funding of Public Safety/Court. Building in the amount AEDC Consultant Isauro Trevino. stated that they have been working for this project for over a year and) have made three trips to Washington. D.C, expressing hope that their efforts will off We were invited by Congresswoman. Monica del la Cruz to the South Texas Days were. she pay announced. that out of 50 application she had chosen 12 applications for appropriation. The City ofAlamo was one oft the 12 applications that were chosen. The application goes firsttoa subcommittee ofAgriculture. Rural Development. Food and Drug Administration, which is compose of15 members that are 9 Republicans and 61 Democrats. He created. 15 letters for each democrat and republican to advocate for our, project. The letter was read to the City Mayor. JR. Garza thanked the entire delegation that made it to Washington. D.C. for their effort,  the City of4 Alamo residents. can utilize itj for this recommendation.  $3,500,000.  Commission.  dedication, andy passion toj fight for our community.  AEDC Consultant Isauro Trevino thanked the City Commission. He stated  CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: Five minutes per person with no response from the  Commission.  City  Residents must sign up prior to the city meeting.    No citizen participation  I.  ADJOURNMENT  Citizens are encouraged to sign the attendance sheet.  There being noj further business, Mayor. JR. Garza adjourned the meeting at 7:49p.m.  FEnE  Manager  Tan