CITY OF LAREDO CITY COUNCIL MEETING M2016-R-05 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1110 HOUSTON STREET LAREDO, TEXAS 78040 MARCH 21, 2016 5:30 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pete Saenz called the meeting to order. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Pete Saenz led in the pledge of allegiance. III. ROLL CALL In attendance: Pete Saenz Mayor Rudy Gonzalez District I Esteban Rangel District II Alejandro Perez, Jr. District III Juan Narvaez Mayor Pro-Tempore, District IV Roque Vela, Jr. District V Charlie San Miguel District VI George J. Altgelt District VII Roberto Balli District VIII Doanh “Zone” T. Nguyen Acting City Secretary Jesus Olivares City Manager Cynthia Collazo Deputy City Manager Horacio De Leon Assistant City Manager Raul Casso City Attorney Cm. Vela joined at 5:35 pm. Cm. Balli joined at 5:37 pm. IV. MINUTES Approval of the March 7, 2016 City Council Meeting minutes, as amended to reflect Resolution number 2016-R-25 to 2016-R-24. Motion to approve the March 7, 2016 minutes as amended to reflect Resolution number 2016-R-25 to 2016-R-24. Moved: Cm. San Miguel 1 Second: Cm. Perez For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Cm. Balli and Cm. Vela were not present. V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Communiqués 1. Presentation by Nancy Santos on the Laredo Cancer Society and the upcoming Lanterns of Love Festival scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Nancy Santos announced that the Lanterns of Love Festival will take place Saturday, April 9, 2016, at TAMIU. It will include a run and walk, Zumba, and a yoga class. She invited Council to attend and bring donations to support local individuals with cancer. 2. Presentation by Olivia Varela of the Laredo Development Foundation on the quarterly update on the business activity on MileOne. Olivia Varela, Laredo Development Foundation (LDF) Executive Director, reported collaboration with Webb County and Nuevo Laredo to bring industry to Laredo. LDF continues to participate with border advocacy groups and local transportation sectors. The goals include developing an automotive and oil and gas industry cluster, expanding opportunities for produce and refrigerated services, and targeting companies that provide skills development and career advancement opportunities resulting in higher wages. Landed projects have totaled $361,500,00.00 in capital investments so far, with 550 new jobs projected. There are still many projects in progress with expectations of commitment in the next 10 months. Ms. Varela remains optimistic about the potential growth and impact that these projects will bring to Laredo. She stated that being in a primary trade route makes Laredo competitive for new projects. Laredo’s growth in commercial retail has also attracted more corporations, such as Cheddar’s restaurant chain. Hector Ramirez, LDF IBAC Administrator, reported that MileOne is a support center focused on providing a platform for entrepreneurs and investors. According to statistics, 80% of businesses fail within the first 18 months of operation, and MileOne intends to alleviate that problem for Laredo small businesses. He summarized the four categories of small business support: co-working space, business incubation, business accelerator, and investor fast-track services. Recognitions 1. Recognition by Mayor Pro-Tempore Juan Narvaez of "Voces Unidas" a 2 district wide elementary choir for being one (1) of six (6) choirs selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference. These students have qualified to be in this choir based on an audition process and were selected by TMEA based on their qualifications and by a panel of judges. (Co-Sponsored by Council Member Roque Vela Jr.) The Voces Unidas group performed a song for Council and attendees. Mayor Pete Saenz thanked the choir as well as their parents for their contributions to Laerdo. 2. Recognizing the Nixon High School and United High School boys basketball team for being one of the last 8 teams to play in their respective classification Nixon (5A) and United (6A). This is the first time in Laredo History that two schools represent Laredo at this level. Mayor Pete Saenz thanked the student athletes and their parents for making Laredo proud through their hard work and dedication. Citizen comments Clema Owen voiced her love for her community and how the Moving Laredo Forward’s “Let the People Decide” movement was not meant to be controversial. She believes that the public should be free to choose the way they are represented. Jose Gamez, President of the LULAC Council 777, noted that what has been working in the districts of Laredo should not be changed. He believes that single member districts are the best for Laredo. Eva Delgado, representing the Mother Cabrini Community, supported Mayor Pete Saenz and asked the Council Members who voted for former City Manager Carlos Villarreal on his nomination to the Ethics Commission if they had a special interest or fear. She pointed out their lack of intelligence and ethics for their decisions, which were not based on their constituents’ benefit and opinions. Sylvia Cosio, Comité de Damas en la Política Chair, requested an explanation from Mayor Pete Saenz about his statements in the newspaper with regards to a change on the political structure assigning him more power. She also stated that Mayor Saenz is contradicting himself on his declarations to the media. According to her, what is need in Laredo is Council Members who lived in the district they represent. She concluded that she would make a complaint to the Ethics Commission against Mayor Saenz as he is a bad example. Jan Mora stated that the Boy Scouts of America Troop 201 are currently earning a “Citizenship in the Community” badge, which requires attendance of a City Council meeting to listen to an issue of controversy and decide their position. She noted that Cm. Perez is visiting the troop on April 1. 3 Ivan Rodriguez claimed that if Laredo citizens can make something better, they should. It is an American right to put an issue on the ballot for a vote, and that members of Council should not try to hinder that. He asked Council to keep an open mind on this issue and to do the right thing. Andrew Carranco recounted the incubator reform from his trip to Washington D.C. with the Laredo delegation. The main intention is to include young professionals in Laredo business. Andres Arangueren of the TAMIU DustyTRON Robotic Team, thanked Council for its support in order for the team to compete at NASA Headquarters in Florida last year. They finished 20th out of 52 universities and 1st out of three teams from Texas. This year, they are the only Texas team to be invited back to the competition. He asked for Council’s continued support this year. VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES a. Appointment by Council Member Roque Vela Jr. of Robert Tellez to the Environmental Advisory Committee. Motion to approve the appointment of Robert Rellez to the Environmental Advisory Committee. Moved: Cm. Vela Second: Cm. Narvaez For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Cm. Gonzalez was not present. b. Appointment by Council Member Roberto Balli of Karen Elizondo to the Third Party Funding Advisory Committee. Motion to approve the appointment of Karen Elizondo to the Third Party Funding Advisory Committee. Moved: Cm. Vela Second: Cm. Narvaez For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Cm. Gonzalez was not present. c. Appointment by Mayor Pete Saenz of Sigifredo Perez, III to the Ethics Commission. Motion to approve the appointment of Sigifredo Perez, III to the Ethics 4 Commission. Moved: Cm. Vela Second: Cm. Narvaez For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Cm. Gonzalez was not present. VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by amending Ordinance 2014-O-110 authorizing a Special Use Permit for a restaurant selling alcohol on Lot 6A, Block 1, Vista Hermosa Subdivision, Unit III, located at 5511 McPherson Road by changing the permit holder; providing for publication and effective date. Staff is not in support of the application and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the Special Use Permit. District V Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Vela Second: Cm. Balli For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Diego Mounetou, the applicant, requested for a permit to sell alcohol to provide more services to customers at the restaurant. He has no objection to closing the restaurant at midnight, and he does not intend to have live music as a feature of the restaurant. He is aware that at least 51% of his total sales being for food. He stated that the restaurant is already built but is not open yet. Nathan Bratton, Planning Director, stated that a concern is that the applicant only has 27 parking spaces of the required 53. There is a deficit of parking in that area, and the applicant does not have remote parking. He said the only recommendation would be to reduce the occupancy permit number to whatever correlates to the 27 parking spaces. Motion to close public hearing and introduce with the conditions that the restaurant close at midnight every day and not have live music. Moved: Cm. Vela Second: Cm. Altgelt For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Cm. San Miguel was not present. 5 2. Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 7, Block 562, Eastern Division, located at 610 Hendricks Avenue, from M-1 (Light Manufacturing District) to R-3 (Mixed Residential District); providing for publication and effective date. Staff is in support of the application and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the zone change. District III Motion to open the public hearing.