Sep 08, 2026 City Council

[1. Call to order; Pledge of Allegiance; Establishment of Quorum ]

[5. Approval of Consent Agenda Items: ]

[18. Discussion and Action: ]

[6. PUBLIC HEARING: ]

[7. Discussion and Action: ]

[8. Discussion and Action: ]

[9. Discussion and Action: ]

[10. PRESENTATION: ]

[11. PUBLIC HEARING: ]

[12. Discussion and Action: ]

[13. Discussion and Action: ]

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PERCENTAGE INCREASE, BUT IT WILL HAVE THE BASIC INFORMATION. BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT THIS

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I SECOND THE MOTION. YES, SIR. SO WE HAVE A. YES, SIR. BUT BEFORE WE PROCEED TO A VOTE, I DO WANT TO PROVIDE SOME SOME COMMENTS. FIRST, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THIS MEETING TODAY, YOU KNOW, I DID WALK IN WITH A HEAVY HEART, AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT A TAX RATE INCREASE, YOU KNOW, IS NECESSARY. YOU KNOW, IN TALKING WITH MY DAD RIGHT BEFORE I CAME TO MY MEETING, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY THESE TYPES OF DECISIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN LOOKING AT OUR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, IT WAS PAST COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE LAST COUNCIL, IN THE LAST MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION THAT ADDED THE 2023 CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION TO THE BALLOT AND VOTERS APPROVED. AND SO NOW, THE WAY THAT BOND WAS STRUCTURED, THE INTEREST PAYMENTS WERE DUE JUST THE FIRST THREE YEARS. AND NOW THIS IS YEAR FOUR, IN WHICH THAT INITIAL PRINCIPAL PAYMENT IS DUE ABOUT OVER $600,000, TOTALING THAT $900,000 FIGURE. AND SO IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY IS IN GOOD STANDING, AS MISS GAITAN, AS WE DISCUSSED OVER THE PHONE, FUTURE NEED WILL REQUIRE GOOD CREDIT. AND IN ORDER TO FUND THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, IT IS. IT'S NECESSARY THAT WE ENSURE THE CITY REMAINS IN GOOD FINANCIAL STANDING AND THAT WE DO THAT FOR FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

SO IN THE FUTURE, I THINK WE NEED TO GET MORE CREATIVE. WE NEED TO WORK HEAVILY WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO FIND AND CLAW BACK FUNDING. WE CAN GO OUT AND FIND MORE STATE FUNDING. WE CAN GO OUT AND FIND MORE FEDERAL FUNDING. WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS REPRESENTING THIS COMMUNITY. THAT'S DIFFICULT. YOU KNOW, VOTERS NEED TO STAY INFORMED. THEY NEED TO VOTE. WE HAVE OUR PRIMARIES. WE HAD OUR WE ARE HAVING OUR GENERAL ELECTION THIS COMING NOVEMBER. AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THESE TYPES OF DIFFICULT DECISIONS, IT DEPENDS ON ALL OF US. IT DEPENDS ON OUR STATE AND FEDERAL LAWMAKERS, ALONG WITH

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AND I WOULD ASK THAT SEPARATELY FOR TONIGHT'S VOTE. I WANT TO PUT TWO THINGS ON THE RECORD AND ASK THAT THEY BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS. SO, FIRST, THAT THIS COUNCIL BE DIRECTLY INCLUDED IN SETTING OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES HEADING INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, RATHER THAN THAT WORK HAPPENING WITHOUT US. SECOND, THAT STAFF BE DIRECTED THROUGH A PROPERLY POSTED ACTION ITEM TO AGGRESSIVELY CONTINUE PURSUING FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR UPCOMING CAPITAL PROJECTS, SO THAT FUTURE PROJECTS SO THAT FEWER FUTURE PROJECTS REQUIRE NEW CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION OR BOND MEASURES THAT ULTIMATELY LAND ON TAXPAYERS BILLS. SO TONIGHT'S VOTE IS REALLY ABOUT HONORING OUR COMMITMENT THAT WE ALREADY MADE. SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR GOING FORWARD IS THAT WE MAKE FEWER COMMITMENTS LIKE THIS WITHOUT EXHAUSTING OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS. FIRST, FUTURE PROJECTS WILL REQUIRE GOOD CREDIT, AND THIS COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT IT BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR WE LOSE TO BAD STANDING TODAY IS A DOLLAR THAT TAXPAYERS WILL PAY TOMORROW. AND SO I YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. THANK YOU MAYOR, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENT? ONE LAST THING. YES, SIR. THIS IS NOT A VERY EASY POSITION TO BE IN. AGAIN, IT'S SO EASY TO GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRY AND WORK OUT NUMBERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN THEY'RE NOT REALLY INFORMED. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS ACTUALLY TO BE INFORMED IS TO KNOW EXACTLY NOT ONLY WHO YOU PLACE IN OFFICE, WHO YOU TRUST IN OFFICE, AND MOST IMPORTANT, FIND OUT THE GROWTH AS WELL AS WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE IN WHATEVER CITY OR WHATEVER TOWN. SO AGAIN, WITH THE RISING COST OF EVERYTHING, IT'S IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. SO VERY IMPORTANT GO OUT TO THE BALLOTS, DO VOTE. BUT MOST IMPORTANT, GET INFORMED, GET INFORMED OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I DO WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS. THIS IS NOT EASY. WE'VE SPENT MANY, MANY DAYS WORKING ON THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HOPE YOU ALL SEE THAT THE WORK THAT THAT STAFF HAS PUT INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF WORK. AND. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE EVERYBODY UP HERE, THIS DAIS RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AT HEART. WE REALLY DO.

WE ARE TAXPAYERS AS WELL. WE DON'T WANT OUR TAXES TO GO UP, BUT WE DO SEE THE NEED AND WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT COSTS ARE GOING UP AND WHAT THOSE RAMIFICATIONS ARE TO OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. BUT AGAIN, I'M GOING TO REALLY REITERATE THIS. MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN IF YOU WANT TO COME AND TALK, IF THE CONSTITUENTS WANT TO COME AND TALK TO US AND AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITY, PLEASE COME OUT AND TO, TO ALDERMAN ORTEGA'S POINT, SOCIAL MEDIA IS ONE THING, BUT COME AND TALK TO US. YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. COME TALK TO ME AND THEN WE'LL EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO SEE, BUT ONCE YOU SEE IT FROM WHERE WE'RE STANDING, IT'S, YOU CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHY, WHY IT'S A NECESSITY. OUR CITY IS GROWING. AND THOSE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT WERE IN THE PAST, THOSE WERE ALL VOTER APPROVED. YOU KNOW, THAT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE CAME UP WITH AND JUST DECIDED TO DO. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC VOTED ON. SO WE ARE NOW AT THAT POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO PAY THOSE BACK.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TODAY, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND FOR THE PUBLIC, EVERYBODY UP HERE RIGHT NOW HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TOWN AT HEART. SO WITH THAT,

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THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. IT'S BEEN APPROVED. BUT WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT ITEM. WE NEED TO FUND THE BUDGET THAT YOU LIKE. 60% VOTE. YES, MA'AM. THE CLARIFICATION. YES. THANK YOU.

[14. PUBLIC HEARING: ]

INDIVIDUAL TAXES MAY INCREASE AT A GREATER OR LESSER RATE, OR EVEN DECREASE, DEPENDING ON THE CHANGE IN THE TAXABLE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY IN RELATION TO THE CHANGE IN TAXABLE VALUE OF OTHER PROPERTY AND THE TAX RATE THAT IS ADOPTED. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR 2027 WE ARE. WE HAVE A PROPERTY VALUATION OF $1 BILLION SEVEN 703,000,210 197,000. THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS IS AT 0.379471. THE DEBT SERVICE RATE IS AT 0.216317, FOR A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.595788. THIS IS THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE AND IS THE ONE THAT THE COUNCIL, I MEAN THE CITY IS APPROVED, IS PROPOSING TO ADOPT, AND IT'S WHAT IS INCORPORATED IN THE BUDGET AS WELL. THANK YOU MA'AM. BEING THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW OPEN. WOULD ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY LIKE TO COME UP AND COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14. SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WISH TO WISH TO COMMENT ON

[15. PUBLIC HEARING: ]

BEING THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, THAT THIS ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. IF ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY WISHES TO COMMENT, I SAID WISHES CORRECTLY THAT I'M NOT WITCHES. IF ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. BEING THAT THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WISH TO COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC

[16. Discussion and Action: ]

ITEM NUMBER 16. THIS IS A DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE TOWN OF HORIZON CITY, TEXAS, APPROVING THE 2026 AD VALOREM TAX RATE AND LEVY OF ASSESSED VALUATION OF ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF OF THE CITY, PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES AND INTEREST AND PROVIDING THE FOR THE FOLLOWING FINDING OF FACT SEVERABILITY SAVING CLAUSE, PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL FINANCE

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YOU KNOW, THE BILL IS DUE THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT. AND SO LAST I SPOKE WITH MISS GAITAN, I BELIEVE OUR 2005 BOND WILL END UP PAYING THAT IN 2029. THAT'S CORRECT. CORRECT. SO THE WAY THESE BONDS ARE STRUCTURED, IT'S FOR THESE LONG PERIODS OF TIME. AND SO IN THE FUTURE, BEFORE WE COUNSEL FUTURE COUNCILS, WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE HERE, THAT FUTURE COUNCILS REALLY CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT ISSUING ADDITIONAL VOTER APPROVED DEBT IS NECESSARY TO FUND THESE PROJECTS. OF COURSE, HORIZON CITY IS GROWING. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, BUT WE NEED TO CHANGE BASE MONEY ELSEWHERE, PARTICULARLY STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING. SO THOSE WERE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I HAD MADE PRIOR. ALDERMAN AVILA. SO IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, THE THE FIRST ONE IS INVOLVING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THE DESIGN PROCESS OF COMING UP WITH A GOOD BUDGET, AM I CORRECT? BEING MORE INVOLVED, BEING MORE INVOLVED IN SETTING THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. AND THEN THE SECOND IS TO MORE AGGRESSIVELY FIND THE FUNDING, FEDERAL FUNDING. SECOND IS TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTINUE FINDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES, PARTICULARLY STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT THOSE WOULD PERTAIN THAT MOTION WOULD PERTAIN TO THIS ITEM. I WAS JUST PUTTING THAT ON THE RECORD SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, AS WE PUT TOGETHER THOSE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, COUNCIL IS INVOLVED INSTEAD OF SLAPPING IT ON TO A STAFF REPORT AND GIVING US A FEW DAYS TO REVIEW. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD TO THAT ONE THAT I THINK THE THIRD THING THAT I THINK IS IMPERATIVE IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE TODAY WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE TAXPAYERS TO SEE IT SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN READILY ACCESS IT, HAVE IT ACCESSIBLE. SO ABSOLUTELY 100% RIGHT. I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY HERE. NONE OF US ARE AFRAID TO TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO BE CHASING US AROUND. I THINK THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE AND HAVE SOME KIND OF.

I DON'T KNOW, A FEW PARAGRAPHS EXPLAINING WHAT IS THE REASONING FOR WHERE THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM? THAT'S JUST ONE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO, TO WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING. THAT THAT IS OFFERED IN OUR FINAL VERSION OF THE OF THE BUDGET. ONCE THE COUNCIL APPROVES AND WE HAVE ALL THE WE INCORPORATE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN INTO OUR BUDGET AS WELL, OUR BUDGET BOOK AS WELL. AND SO ONCE THAT DOCUMENT IS COMPLETE WITH ALL THE ATTACHMENTS THAT WERE REQUIRED BY STATE TO INCLUDE IN THAT DOCUMENT, WE DO POST IT ON OUR WEBSITE. AND THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION SUCH AS WHAT EACH DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE USING THEIR FUNDS, WHAT STAFF MEMBERS ARE IN THAT DEPARTMENT, AND OFFERS DETAILS ON WHAT OUR OTHER FUNDS USE THE FUNDS FOR AS WELL, AND WHAT THEIR BUDGET IS FOR THAT YEAR. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD DOCUMENT TO REFER TO ANYBODY WHO HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR BUDGET. WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE YEARS. WE HAVE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

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THE ADOPTED BUDGET IS YES, BUT CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY THAT AFFECT OUR BUDGET IS THAT EXPLAINED IN THERE AS WELL, SAYING, YOU KNOW, NO, IT'S NOT OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION UPDATED AND AVAILABLE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS SO THAT THEY KNOW THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN. BUT DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, WE'RE HAVING TO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS POSTED WHAT THAT BUDGET STANDS AT AS AT A CERTAIN DATE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THAT'S JUST MY RECOMMENDATION. AND THEN ALSO REMEMBER THAT BY CHARTER, YOU ALL CANNOT MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR BUDGET WITHOUT IT BEING AN ORDINANCE, WHICH IS TAKES IT TO A HIGHER LEVEL. SO ANYTIME THE BUDGET IS AMENDED, THE PUBLIC IS AWARE BECAUSE WE DO ALL THE POSTINGS AND ALL OF THAT. THAT'S IN YOUR CHARTER, RIGHT? AND THAT'S INFORM THEM. THERE ARE FACTORS THAT ARE AFFECTING. YES. YEAH, YOU CAN DO. BUT I MEAN, JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW THERE'S THE BUDGET DOESN'T CHANGE WITHOUT IT COMING HERE. THERE'S NO ADJUSTMENTS. AND USUALLY THAT IS JUST A REALLOCATION BETWEEN SAY, DEPARTMENTS. IT DOES. RARELY DOES IT INCREASE THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THANK YOU. MR. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MOTIONS. THREE, WE HAVE THREE MOTIONS. SO I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HORIZON CITY, TEXAS, APPROVING THE 2026 AD VALOREM TAX RATE AND LEVY OF ASSESSED VALUATION OF ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COULD YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? ORTEGA. ORTEGA. NO.

AVILA, I AIMS I I MENDOZA I THAT'S FOUR EYES TO TWO NAYS IS THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO IT. WE NEED TO HAVE FIVE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES BECAUSE WE NEED 60% OF THE COUNCIL. SO WE HAVE OF TOTAL COUNCIL OR THE TOTAL COUNCIL OR THE ONES PRESENT. OKAY. SO OKAY. SO SO IF WE DON'T, IF THIS DOES NOT GET APPROVED, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO THE BUDGET. SO WE HAVE TO UNDO AND START ALL OVER AGAIN. AND WE ONLY HAVE TILL THE END OF SEPTEMBER TO DO IT. SO OUR OUR BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED.

COUNCIL. AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THAT. THE FUNDING TAX RATE FOR THAT. SO AGAIN, AS AS OUR COUNCIL HAS JUST MENTIONED, IF WE DO NOT, THEN WE WILL NOT HAVE A BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, AND WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THIS MONTH IN ORDER TO GET THAT COMPLETED. SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM FROM COUNCIL THAT COULD KIND OF CLARIFY WHERE WE'RE AT AND MOVE THIS FORWARD? OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE TO TABLE THIS AND GET THIS BUDGET DONE AND RELOOKED AT AGAIN IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. ACTUALLY, NO, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT. WE WOULD HAVE A WEEK AND A HALF IN ORDER TO DO THAT. THAT'S RIGHT. SO THAT WAY WE COULD GET THIS ON THE LAST WEEK OF BEFORE OF SEPTEMBER IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT AGAIN, I WILL SAY THIS LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR WE APPROVED A BUDGET, WHICH YOU ALL WERE. EVERYBODY HERE WAS A PART OF THAT COUNCIL. WE APPROVED A BUDGET WITH A DEFICIT OF $370,000, AND WE TOOK MONEY FROM OUR RESERVES IN ORDER TO COVER THAT BUDGET. WE ARE NOW AT A DEFICIT OF $194,000. SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LITTLE HEADWAY TOWARDS A ZERO BUDGET, RIGHT? A BUDGET NEUTRAL, I GUESS, A BALANCED BUDGET RATHER.

SO WE WOULD GET IN ORDER TO COVER THAT DEFICIT, WE WOULD AGAIN HAVE TO GO TO OUR RESERVES, WHICH WE DO HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AT A LOWER AMOUNT OF $194,000. AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THIS BALLOON PAYMENT, WELL, IT'S NOT REALLY A BALLOON PAYMENT. IT'S JUST THE NATURAL PRINCIPAL PAYMENT THAT COMES UP WITH THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. I'M SORRY SIR, THAT IS WHY WE'RE IN THIS POSITION NOW. BUT ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL THAT WOULD HELP CLARIFY EXACTLY WHERE IT IS, WHERE WE ARE, SO WE CAN MOVE THIS FORWARD? MAYOR, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T DISCUSS TODAY, TONIGHT IS THE

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AGAIN, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR POLICE NOW IS EVERY TWO YEARS OR HAS IT BEEN ALWAYS EVERY TWO YEARS? IT IS EVERY THREE YEARS. EVERY TWO YEARS, EVERY TWO YEARS. IT'S EVERY OTHER YEAR, EVERY OTHER YEAR. EVERY OTHER YEAR. YES. SO THIS YEAR WE WILL BE INCREASING THEIR SALARIES BY 2%, AND THEN NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE. AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR THERE WILL BE ANOTHER INCREASE OF 2%. THAT IS THE WAY THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS STRUCTURED, SO THAT THE IMPACT IS NOT AS HIGH ON THE CITY'S BUDGET. WELL, AND ALSO, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO REOPEN THE CONTRACT TO DISCUSS THEIR COMPENSATION AND COMING YEAR, BECAUSE THAT WAS THAT WAS NEGOTIATED. THAT WILL BE WE HAVE THAT COMING UP AS WELL. YEAH. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE TAXPAYERS THAT ARE HERE AND WATCHING, WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS, IF WE DON'T APPROVE? IF YOU IF YOU DON'T APPROVE A BUDGET, WELL, YOU APPROVED THE APPROVED BUDGET'S APPROVED. BUT IF YOU DON'T APPROVE A TAX RATE THAT SUPPORTS THE BUDGET, THEN YOU YOU REALLY HAVE YOU DON'T HAVE A BUDGET. SO LIKE IF TONIGHT WE DON'T GET A VOTE, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT WE WOULD TABLE IT AND THEN CALL A SPECIAL MEETING JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THE VOTES BY THEN. AND THEN IF WE DON'T, I MEAN, THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE A NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET, WHICH WOULD MEAN CUTS. YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE CUT THINGS AND WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MEET OUR DEBT OBLIGATION. WE WOULD IF YOU DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU MADE YOUR CUTS. SO OKAY, SO CONSEQUENCES, CUTS AND THE BUDGET CURRENTLY INCORPORATES THIS TAX RATE. SO IF WE DON'T, WE DON'T ADOPT THE TAX RATE, THEN THE BUDGET IS NULL AND IT'S NOT VALID. SO THE CONSEQUENCES IS CUTS CUTS TO STAFF CUTS TO SERVICES TO SERVICES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE ALL OF THE ABOVE. RIGHT. WELL

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OUR MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE AMONG THE BORDERS WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT JUST SO THAT COUNCIL REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPACT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY MADE THAT COMMITMENT WITH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR OFFICERS. SO IF YOU COULD JUST WALK COUNCIL THROUGH THAT SO THAT WE HAVE THAT FULL, COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF WHAT NOT APPROVING A RATE THAT WOULD FUND THAT AGREEMENT, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY. SO WITH WITH THE GENERATIONAL, I MEAN, WITH YOUNG OFFICERS COMING INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT THEIR RETIREMENT. THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT ANY, ANY, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, WHEN WE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE, THE BENEFITS OF, OF OUR SALARY COMPARED TO THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT. NOW THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES. CORRECT. THEY'RE A MUCH LARGER ORGANIZATION, A LOT MORE, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS. AND THEY HAVE A MUCH LARGER TAX BASE WITH US. WE'RE MUCH SMALLER. OUR, OUR, OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE VERY LIMITED. SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE TO STAY HERE. AND, AND THE, THE WHOLE FOUNDATION FOR THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WAS TO TRY AND KEEP OUR STAFF HERE AND RAISE THEM HERE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEM, YOU KNOW, GO UP THE RANKS, LIKE THE MAYOR WAS SAYING EARLIER, ESTABLISH THAT STEP STEP INCREASES SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET PAID, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, TEN YEARS FROM NOW. AND SO THOSE SALARIES WERE WERE AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT AS COMPETITIVE AS EL PASO PD, BUT THE IT GIVES THEM SOME KIND OF STRUCTURE, SOME KIND OF SECURITY. AND AGAIN, WHEN THEY SEE THOSE NUMBERS, THEY JUST SEE THE NUMBERS. THEY DON'T SEE THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS. THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE. AND SO THAT WAS THE BASIS OF OF THAT CONTRACT IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS TO TRY AND KEEP OUR YOUNG OFFICERS TO MAKE HORIZON CITY A CAREER PATH AND NOT JUST A STEPPING ORGANIZATION TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU STILL HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, I MIGHT THINK ABOUT GOING TO THE STATE TROOPERS OR I MIGHT THINK ABOUT GOING TO SHERIFF'S OFFICE, EL PASO PD, I MEAN, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO WE, WE CAN'T REALLY, WE TRY OUR BEST TO TRY AND KEEP THEM IN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS, IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST TOOL, OF COURSE, ASIDE FROM, FROM, FROM THE FACT THAT THAT THE CITY HAS SOME, SOME, SOME VERY GOOD BENEFIT PACKAGES FOR US. AND IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY COST EFFECTIVE COMPARED TO, TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SO THIS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY OPTED TO DO EVERY OTHER YEAR RAISES AND IT'S ONLY

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IT'S UNUSUAL. RIGHT. AND THAT WAS DONE IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE POLICE UNION. IT WAS DONE IN GOOD FAITH THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD. I'M ASSUMING THEY UNDERSTOOD THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE CITY. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE A SMALL ENTITY. AND AGAIN, THEY DID THAT IN GOOD FAITH. AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH TO TO MEET THOSE OBLIGATIONS.

RIGHT. WE HAVE EXCELLENT OFFICERS. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO CALL OUT LIEUTENANT VALDEZ, WHO HAS BEEN WITH OUR DEPARTMENT FOR FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS, YOU KNOW, WENT TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND THERE SHE WAS VOLUNTEERING TO, TO TAKE CARE OF RESIDENTS ATTENDING SUNDAY CHURCH. RIGHT. AND SO OUR POLICE UNION NEGOTIATED A 2% RAISE EVERY OTHER YEAR. THAT IS UNUSUAL. THAT IS UNUSUAL. I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE AGREED TO THAT.

BUT LOVING THIS COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT, THE FISCAL IMPACT, I AGAIN, THAT WAS DONE IN GOOD FAITH. AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR COUNCIL TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH TO TO MEET THEM HALFWAY. THEY MET US HALFWAY AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO THE SAME. BUT MISS GAYTAN, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, IT ALLOWS US TO BUDGET IN ADVANCE TO BETTER ANTICIPATE THE THE FISCAL IMPACT? DEFINITELY, YES IT DOES. AND FOR OUR OFFICERS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE PART OF THAT AGREEMENT, FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'LL BE GETTING THAT RAISE EVERY OTHER YEAR. RIGHT. OKAY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING INTO FOR OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SO THAT WE CAN CONTROL THOSE COSTS AS WELL. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE THEIR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT AND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR THEM DOWN THE ROAD SO THAT THEY CAN STAY WITH US AS WELL. AND JUST, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT CHIEF SAID, THERE ARE BENEFITS. YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY UNUSUAL FOR A ENTITY SUCH AS OURSELVES TO PAY 100% OF HEALTH BENEFITS. A LOT OF THE ENTITIES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA ASK FOR EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE PERCENTAGE, HALF OF THE COST AND SO FORTH. AND WE HAVE, SINCE I'VE BEEN AWARE OF THAT SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CITY, THE HEALTH BENEFITS HAVE BEEN PAID BY THE TOWN AT 100%. SO THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE BUDGET AND ALSO FOR RETENTION. OUR RETIREMENT PLAN IS ANOTHER BENEFIT THAT WE ALSO ARE PROUD OF. AS YOU'LL RECALL, LAST YEAR WE INCREASED OUR MATCHING RATIO TO 2 TO 1 IN AN EFFORT ALSO TO RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES AND KEEP THE BEST OF THE BEST WITHIN THE CITY'S CONFINES. SO THAT'S ALSO AT A COST TO THE CITY. BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE, AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE ARE TAKING ON EXPENSES OR MAYBE PROFESSIONAL COSTS THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE PAID FOR. AND YET WE'RE HIRING STAFF THAT WILL DO THAT AS PART OF THEIR DAILY DUTIES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL COST GOING OUT THE DOOR. AND I DO WANT TO ADD AS WELL THE INSURANCE AS WELL. PREMIUMS, I BELIEVE, WENT DOWN THIS YEAR. CORRECT. AND ACTUALLY STAYED THE SAME. OH, IT STAYED THE SAME. THERE WAS NO INCREASE TO OUR HEALTH BENEFITS THIS YEAR. SO, SO SO THAT HELPED AS WELL. SO OUR STAFF, THEY'RE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB MAKING SURE THAT THAT OUR COSTS ARE STAYING, ARE STAYING LOW. THEY'RE NOT INCREASING. SO THAT'S A BECAUSE THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COST TO THE CITY AT THAT 100%.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, AND GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH POLICE OFFICERS, SOME OF THE OFFICERS AFTER THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WAS AGREED TO AND, AND NEGOTIATED. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY THEY THEY AGREED TO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE TOWN, BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE DEPARTMENT. AND THEY THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE, YES, THERE IS AN INCREASE FOR THEM. HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT BY BREAKING THE BACK OF OF THE CITY BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT HERE. AND, AND AS CHIEF MENTIONED,

[01:40:06]

SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, THIS. THIS YEAR WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GIVE THE COLA THAT THAT WE USUALLY GIVE. BUT IN THE YEARS COMING THIS NEXT GO AROUND FOR FOR FOR OUR NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, THERE WILL BE A PAY SCALE IN PLACE FOR THE CITY. SO THAT WAY, AGAIN, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUDGETING WELL AND WE HAVE A MECHANISM TO BUDGET BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S SO HARD. A LOT OF IT IS JUST FORECASTING. AND THIS IS JUST ONE MORE, ONE MORE TOOL THAT WE CAN USE, ONE MORE RESOURCE WE CAN USE AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUDGET IS IS BALANCED. SO WITH ALL OF THAT, YES, SIR. WITH, WITH THE WORD BUDGET BUDGET, IT COMES OUT OUT OF EVERYONE'S HOUSEHOLD.

IF YOU KNOW SO MUCH IS COMING IN, YOU CAN'T OVERSPEND. AND AGAIN, I KNOW OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS PHENOMENAL. WE ALL TRY AND DO THE BEST JOB THAT WE CAN AS FAR AS CONTRACTS NEGOTIATING, I'M ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THAT ONLY BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST WAS EMPLOYED, I WASN'T TOLD A SECURE BUDGET. IT WAS ALL THE. THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR IT.

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE FOR WHAT YOU GET PAID. AND AGAIN, THE BIG WORD IN THIS WAS BUDGET. SO I ACCEPTED IT. I TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE AND NOW I TOOK IT INTO MY HOUSEHOLD AND I BUDGETED THIS IS MY HOUSEHOLD NOW. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE JOB THAT THEY DO, ESPECIALLY POLICE, BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT WHEN I DO CALL, I KNOW THEY WILL BE THERE. AND AS FAR AS ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT IS NEEDED AROUND THE CITY, WE WILL BE THERE. SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW MY VOTE AS NAY AND GO WITH AA. THANK YOU SIR. DO WE NEED TO MOTION? WELL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND AND GO BACK AND WE'LL PULL THE TIME ON THE . AND THE SECOND THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD ON THAT AGENDA ITEM. WILL THAT BE FINE, COUNCIL. OKAY. SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

COULD YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? ORTEGA. YAY! ORTEGA. NO. AVILA. I AMES I I MENDOZA.

AYE, AND MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. SO WE HAVE A SECOND. I'D LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.595788, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY AN 11.58% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND THE MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. COULD YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? ORTEGA. YAY! ORTEGA. ORTEGA. BILL NUMBER 16. SO THERE'S THREE MOTIONS ON THIS. THAT'S THE SECOND MOTION. OKAY. NO. AVILA, I AIMS I I MENDOZA AYE MOTION CARRIES. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 16. AND I MOVE THAT A PROPOSED TAX RATE TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE OF 0.216317 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE BE APPROVED. THIS RATE EXCEEDS THE TOWN OF HORIZON CITY DEBT SERVICE RATE DESCRIBED UNDER TEXAS TAX CODE SECTION 26.05, A

[01:45:04]

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COULD YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? ORTEGA. YAY! ORTEGA.

NO. AVILA. I AMES, I GARDEA I MENDOZA I MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. THANK YOU. COULD

[17. Discussion and Action: ]

BLISTER SHOWS UP AFTER THE WORK IS DONE TOO MANY TIMES. IT'S TIRED.

THERE YOU GO. THIS ITEM IS TO ESTABLISH A PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY. THE THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY CHECK WILL BE CONDUCTED ON ALL POTENTIAL CANDIDATES EXCEPT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES. THE POLICY APPLIES TO ALL CANDIDATES WHO HAVE RECEIVED A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION, A CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK AND OR A CREDIT HISTORY CHECK MAY BE CONDUCTED. THE CITY WILL OBTAIN A WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE CANDIDATE, AND THE INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. THE CITY WILL COMPLY WITH ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS REGARDING BACKGROUND CHECKS, INCLUDING THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY GUIDELINES, AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW THE POLICY ANNUALLY TO ENSURE IT REMAINS COMPLIANT WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND EFFECTIVELY MEETS ITS OBJECTIVES. EXCUSE ME. SO IN ESTABLISHING THE POLICY, WE'RE FORMALLY ESTABLISHING A POLICY BY WHICH WE CAN DO BACKGROUND CHECKS. AND THIS APPLIES MOSTLY TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. THE PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE HAS THEIR OWN BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY IN PLACE. SO THIS WOULD BE FOR ONLY FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THE CITY'S EMPLOYMENT. OKAY. IT'LL COME BACK UP. THERE IT IS. IT ALWAYS DOES. YES. SO THIS THIS POLICY JUST ESTABLISHES HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPLY IT, WHO WILL BE APPLY TO AND HOW WE WILL KEEP THE RECORDS CONFIDENTIAL. AND BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU MA'AM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO SEE IS I DON'T LIKE THE WORD MAY. I THINK IT SHOULD BE. YOU'RE NOT ASKING THEM FOR PERMISSION.

YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT. SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE MAY BE CONDUCTED BE CHANGED TO WILL BE CONDUCTED. MUST BE IT'S A GREAT HABIT TO HAVE BACKGROUND CHECKS. YOU SOMEBODY LOOKS GREAT. AND THEN YOU DO THE BACKGROUND CHECK AND REALIZE. AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S FOR ADMINISTRATION STAFF, THEY WORK WITH THE PUBLIC. AND IT'S BEST TO KNOW THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY AS THEY WORK WITH THE PUBLIC. AND I REALLY THINK IT PUTS THE CITY AT LESS OF A, OF A BAD POINT OF HAVING EMPLOYEES. THAT MIGHT NOT BE WHAT YOU THINK. SO I WOULD JUST REQUEST THAT THAT BE CHANGED. NOTED. ADDITIONALLY, MISS, I'M ASSUMING THE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY

[01:50:06]

YES. AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, SUBJECT TO A CREDIT HISTORY CHECK. YES, SIR. OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE, BUT THEY SHOULD BE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM WITH THE FLOOR AMENDMENT. AS DISCUSSED BY ALDERWOMAN EAMES. I SECOND THE MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION WITH THE FLOOR AMENDMENT AND A SECOND. CAN YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? ORTEGA I ORTEGA I AVILA I AMES I I MENDOZA. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND YOUR WING WOMAN. YOU CAN MOVE ON TO. OH NO. THAT'S WE ALREADY MOVED THAT ONE. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO SAY BEFORE BEFORE WE ADJOURN. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF. THIS WAS NOT AN EASY YEAR. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO DO. IT'S IT'S VERY WELL APPRECIATED. AND WE ARE TO LET THE THE COMMUNITY KNOW WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY FOR YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE ARE WELL SPENT AND AFFORD THE COMMUNITY, THE SERVICES AND THE PROTECTION THAT THEY WILL DESERVE. SO AGAIN, WE THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR YOUR HARD WORK. AND AGAIN, OUR MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN FOR ANY CONSTITUENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS OR ANY FUTURE PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE IN MIND. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THIS WASN'T AN EASY ONE, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION HERE AT OUR FOR THE TOWN OF HORIZON CITY. IT IS VERY WELL APPRECIATED. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.