Development Corporation ofl Mercedes, Inc. Special Called Meeting Wednesday, August 21, 2024 3:00PM Board Members Present: Fred Gonzalez- President Marcos Garcia -Vice President Lou Huerta - Secretary Tony Garza - Member Roel Villanueva - Member Joe Flores - Member Board Members Absent: Peggy Marie Chavez Yanez- Treasurer EDC Staff Present: Melissa Ramirez - Executive Director Zefra Mascorro - Administrative Coordinator Mario Salinas Marketing Specialist Mark Sossi - DCM Attorney City Staff Present: Alberto Perez- City Manager Others Present: Rudy Salinas-SAS CPA 1. Call Meeting to order Fred Gonzalez called the meeting to order at 3:01PM 2. Discussion and Action: July 24, 2024 & July 31, 2024 Minutes Marcos Garcia voted to approve the July 24, 2024 Minutes as presented. Seconded by Lou Huerta. All voted aye. Marcos Garcia voted to approve the July 31, 2024 Minutes as presented. Seconded by Tony Garza. All voted aye. 3. Discussion and Action: July 2024 Financials Marcos Garcia voted to approve the July 2024 Financials as presented. Seconded by Tony Garza. All voted aye. 4. Discussion and Action: FY 23-24 Budget Amendment Tony Garza voted to approve the FY 23-24 Budget Amendment. Seconded by Marcos Garcia. All voted aye. 5. Discussion and Action: DCM Goals and Vision Marcos Garcia voted to move forward with the DCM Goals and Vision inclusive of the revitalization of the downtown area. Seconded by Joe Flores. All voted aye 6. Discussion and Action: FY24-25 Budget Marcos Garcia voted to approve the FY24-25 Budget. Seconded by Lou Huerta. All voted aye. 7. Discussion and Action: Signage Grant Program, Diana Sanchez and Karina Rivera Marcos Garcia motioned to approve the signage grants for Diana Sanchez and Karina Rivera with the condition that business owners accept one of the modified three renditions of channel lettering provided by DCM Marketing Specialist Mario Salinas. Seconded by Joe Flores. All voted aye. 8. Discussion and Action: Signage Grant Program Policy Marcos Garcia motioned to amend the Signage Grant Program Policy for sole proprietors and small businesses within Mercedes city limits contingent on funding; businesses must become members of the Mercedes Area Chamber of Commerce. Seconded by Lou Huerta. All voted aye. 9. Discussion and Action: FY24-25 Commercial Signage RFP Joe Flores motioned to move forward with the FY24-25 Commercial Signage RFP. Seconded by Marcos Garcia. All voted aye. 10. Discussion and Action: DCM Lease Marcos Garcia motioned to approve the DCM Lease with the Mercedes Area Chamber of Commerce at a yearly cost of $24,000. Seconded by Lou Huerta. All voted aye. 11. Discussion and Action: Tabled Items No discussion 12. Executive Session: Section 551.087: Economic development negotiations with Project M30, Project Kamel, Project Travel Center, Project STM, Project Knights, Project ASHTI, Project Arts, Project QSR, Project 150, Project M2, Project Cruz, Project M. Carrillo, Project Bert Ogden, Project A. Garcia, Project RGVLS, Project G. Schwarz, Project Coffee, Project Carwash, Project Rios, Project UT, Section 551.074 Personnel Issues: Evaluation of Executive Director and Section 551.071: pending legal issues with Case No C-4846-19-A, delinquent loans and on any regular agenda item requiring confidential, attorney-client advice necessitated by the deliberation or discussion of said item as needed. The Board went into Executive Session at 4:13PM Mario Salinas, Marketing Specialist exited the Executive Session at 4:27PM Zefra Mascorro, Administrative Coordinator exited the Executive Session at 4:27PM Melissa Ramirez, Executive Director exited the Executive Session at 4:50PM Mark Sossi, DCMAttorney exited the Executive Session at 5:10 PM The Board went into Open Session at 5:45PM 13. Discussion and Action: item #12 Marcos Garcia motioned to increase Melissa Ramirez, Executive Director's salary by $5,000, a 7% salary raise for Mario Salinas, Marketing Specialist as well as Zefra Mascorro, Administrative Coordinator and a $2,500 raise and severance package to cover up to 75% of Donna Jackson, Administrative Assistant' S retirement. Seconded by Joe Flores. All voted aye. 14. Adjournment; 5:49PM hwl DOA bpl Fred Gonzalez, Pregident Joe Flores, Jr., Member hrau Marcos Garcia, Vice-President Tonybarza, Member Peggy 0y Marie Chavez-Yanez, Treasurer Roel Villanueva, Member BLL E Lou Huérta, Secretary