CITY OF LAREDO
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
WITH
THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS
5:30 P.M.
MINUTES
M-98-W-11 FEBRUARY 25, 1998
I. CALL TO ORDER
With a quorum present Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores called the meeting to
order.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
IN ATTENDANCE:
ELIZABETH G. FLORES, MAYOR
JOSE R. PEREZ, JR., COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT I
LOUIS H. BRUNI, " , DISTRICT II
ELISEO VALDEZ, " , DISTRICT V
JOE A. GUERRA, " , DISTRICT VI
MARIO G. ALVARADO, " , DISTRICT VII
CONSUELO "CHELO" MONTALVO, " , DISTRICT VIII
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR., CITY SECRETARY
FLORENCIO PENA, III, CITY MANAGER
JAIME L. FLORES, CITY ATTORNEY
ABSENCES:
Motion to excuse Cw. Moreno and Cm. Casso.
Moved : Cw. Montalvo
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
IV. PRESENTATION BY THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT REGARDING THE SCOPE OF
SERVICES THEY WILL BE PROVIDING TO THE CITY OF LAREDO, WITH POSSIBLE
ACTION.
Florencio Pena, City Manager, said that over the last year there
was considerable discussion by council of the need to have legislative
representation in Austin and through the work of the committee over the
last three months, council selected the firm represented by Mario
Martinez. He said they will go over their scope of services, to have a
general understanding of the issues that affect cities, and hear
council's concerns and issues.
He introduced Mr. Mario Martinez, Mr. Bob Strauser, and Ms. Judy Roach
who gave a presentation of issues as they see them and as they are
happening in Austin and as they affect the City.
Mr. Mario Martinez gave opening remarks and introduced Mr. Bob Strauser.
He said he works exclusively on legislative issues. He thinks of most
importance to the city are probably annexation issues, transportation,
infrastructure issues, NAFTA, water studies, housing, health issues, and
telecommunications.
He spoke of interim studies of annexation. He said that as far as
studies of annexation are concern, Lt. Governor Bullock gave an interim
charge of annexation to study the issue pertaining to annexation. The
primary intent of that committee is to go throughout the state and hold
public hearings primarily to get public testimony by city and county
officials, but also from the general constituency. Many of the issues
that have been raised from that is that some of the outer lined areas are
for their own reasons not wanting to be annexed. Whether they feel it is
primarily because the city is using them as a tax base or whether their
concern might be that they are not receiving the proper services that
other areas would be receiving or they are not receiving the same
standard of services. What the committee is presently doing at this
time, with its public hearings and the primary areas they are
concentrating on, are specifically looking at fees in lieu of services.
They are looking at the possibility of creating some formulas whereby a
proposed area in the right of not having to be annexed can go ahead and
pay a city a given fees in lieu of the services, that is one option being
considered. Another consideration being looked at is the standardization
of services. If a given proposed area is going to be annexed they want
to make sure they are in the proposed area, they want to make sure that
they are going to receive those standards (same quality of level that
city is offering to their inner city constituency) they want to be
assured that not within a specified period of time, but immediately upon
being annexed that they will start in a position of receiving those
services.
Another issue being entertained is the voting issue. Allowing a proposed
area that is to be annexed, the opportunity to vote to either opt out of
being annexed or not. Out of the three he feels, that the voting issue,
is one that is not being given that much consideration at this time,
needless-to-say, next week the annexation committee is to give Mr.
Bullock the initial status report. That report will have the number of
meetings held, where the have been held, what areas are proposed for new
hearings, and then specifically those areas of concentration just listed
and to what degree they have been discussed.
Cm. Guerra pointed out that we seem to be landlocked as far as expansion,
we cannot expand any more because in many instances we do not have the
infrastructure, the water and sewer lines to adjoin properties (farm and
ranch) that could be annexed and developed. Developers tell him that
they would be in favor of us altering or revising our ordinance so that
we could extend those lines on a reimbursement basis if needed. He said
that would make the price of land more competitive and expressed that is
why the price of land is so high and expensive here.
Cm. Bruni said that he thinks that the price of land is probably high is
because there is less than four or five gentlemen that own all the land
around the City of Laredo and when there is only four or five key
developers or key property owners that own the land he thinks that is why
the price is so high not because of the extending of infrastructure to
these areas. He is in favor of the developers paying for infrastructure.
Mr. Bob Strauser spoke in relation to NAFTA implementation and the impact
on the border area. He said the principle of the committees is to bring
back recommendations on problems created by NAFTA in the border area, how
NAFTA has affected employment, identify specific impact, state laws that
have to be changed by those impacts, infrastructure, and transportation
needs. He said they held five meeting in Corpus Christi and talked in
particular about highway impact funds needed in the valley and in border
areas. They also spoke of the need of changing the formulas for delivery
of those funds. He said that delivery of funds on the basis of
overweight permits is not satisfactory in the immediate area of the
border. There was extensive testimony regarding Laredo and Corpus in
the Corpus Christi hearing. He said Senator Truan has been invited to
come to Laredo to address the A & M Conference being held here and it
would be useful for him to be invited for him to summarize where he
thinks he is going with the committee and the recommendations of it. He
had to file an interim report by the end of the week on where he is going
with the committee and the report will be finalized by September.
Cm. Valdez was concerned about the formula being use that
affects the valley. He said NAFTA has imposed in our community and has
affected the quality of life for many people and the formula needs to be
revisited and these people need to be pressured for more money for
infrastructure. We need more commitment at the state level.
Mr. Martinez pointed that federal and state legislation relate together,
one of the major focuses he will be having for the city in Washington on
this session is the re-authorization of ISTEA funds. The trend in that
legislation is to give more flexibility to the states', so how the state
decides to spend that money is going to be very important, but they will
also be focusing for Laredo in particular to see that there is monies set
aside for border infrastructure in the ISTEA, the formula used to decide
how much goes to each state, how much for border infrastructure, that it
is favorable to the City.
Cm. Guerra mentioned several points of importance so that Mr. Martinez
and Ms. Betty Cain are aware of these points and maybe together they can
work on them and help us bring some type of a solution at the federal and
state level.
.
1) Laredo handles the largest number of international trade along the
entire Southwestern U.S. border with Mexico.
2) Bridge No. 1 is being promoted by Nuevo Laredo Custom Brokers to
handle cargo inspite of structural problems in the Mexican side which
caused a portion of the bridge to collapse last year.
3) In order to increase traffic flow at Bridge No. 2 an additional road
needs to be constructed at the U.S. Customs Import lot which cost the
City $350,000. The city estimates that by placing additional
inspection station Customs would be able to increase their clearance
of cargo at 25%.
4) In order to increase efficiency at the Colombia Bridge, Customs needs
two additional inspections and another two exits.
5) The Colombia Bridge was built to handle 5,500 trailers daily at
present there are days when the volume exceeds 3,200.
Mr. Strauser continued with the third issue, and said that discussed was
on the follow-up to passage of Senate Bill 1, water planning for the
state. He said the Regional Districts have been formed and the initial
appointees have been made, Laredo has theirs,
"M" obviously. There will be a state wide water plan within two years.
He said Senate Bill No. 1 is written that you will not have a municipal
water permit approved unless it is consistent with that reasonable plan
and that state plan, so that needs monitoring on the next meetings. He
expects the Interim Committee makes recommendations of what they perceive
to be unfinished business of the committee. He said they might want to
make a record before that committee. In referenced to Senate Bill No. 1,
he said that working in conjunction with Senator Zaffirini and
Representative Henry Cuellar they would like to attempt to try to bring
the Conference Committee on water to Laredo and have a hearing here. It
is extremely important, it is needed, and he feels that with the support
of the Senator, the Representative, that of the Mayor and Council he
feels confident that we might be able to have them here immediately
addressing the concerns of Laredo, but most importantly of the State of
Texas.
One other issue that he mentioned was the taxation issue. He said that
certainly taxation and the financing of public education preoccupied the
last legislative session and had some bill passed or one like it passed
in the House, it would have greatly expanded the sales tax base. There
is possibility that would have increased city revenues. He said he does
not really expect to see a major tax bill passed on the next session or
that they bring those issues back. He pointed that the committee is on
the House, appointed, active, and thinks the concerns regarding city
issues need to be watched closely, and maybe you will possibly want to
appear before that committee on one of the seven meetings remaining to
present testimony on the issue and on the need of tax incentives for
economic development in a border region.
Mr. Martinez stated that in the tax hearings there has been reference
made to the border area, to the "Laredo area". He strongly suggests that
we play a major role. In the testimony and in working with committee
members they can get an invitation to come and address some of the
concerns brought up, it would be beneficial to have the City of Laredo
there showing their concern and addressing some of the questions that
have come up on previous meetings.
Cm. Bruni stated one of the main issues is water, and wants to make sure
that the first order of business is pertaining to water.
Mr. Martinez stated feels it is extremely important that they try to get
the Conference Committee to come down to Laredo and hold a public hearing
here. He said Laredo is a dynamic community, is unique in its own right,
it is one of the largest communities in the nation, the quickest growing,
and those factors alone dictate the concern that the committee should
have with the water needs facing the city and surrounding communities.
He mentioned Mr. Ron Lewis Chairman of the House and Senator Buster Brown
from the Senate. He feels that in representing the city along with the
council and the community leaders should work with them in trying to
bring that particular committee to the city and strongly feels that can
happen.
Mr. Martinez spoke of another city concern, franchise fee or franchise
tax, however it is referred. He said the committee has met they are
going to hold additional hearings. There are individuals representing
the Telecommunications Commission, they have been before the committee
and have testified. He added that TML has been responsive in dealing
with the committee in representing the various municipalities. It is his
under-
standing that at this time the interim report due on March 1st to Lt.
Governor will primarily be indicating the committee hearings that have
taken place, the proposed committee sites, and in essence addressing some
of the concerns that have been brought up, there is no recommendation
going to be made at this time in the initial report, but he has been told
by the committee that there will be recommendations and to expect a bill
to come out of that committee report.
He spoke on Consolidation of local Governments and housing.
He reported that the chairman stated that there will not be any
legislation pertaining to the consolidation of governments. He is not
supportive of it, they did hold various hearings
throughout the state. In reference to housing, the committee report is
out, it will be sent to Lt. Governor, and it basically reads the number
of hearing they have held, their proposals, proposed site, comments, no
recommendation, and no suggestion at this time on the issue related to
housing.
Mr. Pena stated they will be monitoring this items, staff is already
involved in some these issues, there will come a time within the next
three months or so when they need to decide what legislative issues we
want to pursue heavily, so we can give them direction and they can give
us direction as to how best get those accomplished for 1999. He said
that will happen around July, but at any point if council feels there
some legislative issues they feel are important, to deliver them to him
and he will deliver them to Mr. Martinez and they will begin formulating
some kind of strategy so that in July when they have a regrouping they
will have an understanding of the issues.
Mr. Martinez concluded by briefing council about "Laredo Day" and the
purpose of it which is basically to bring Laredo to the attention of the
State of Texas at the State Capitol. He said it is an opportunity to
sell Laredo before the Legislature.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn.
Moved : Cm. Valdez
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Adjournment time: 6:35 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE MINUTES CONTAINED IN PAGES 01 TO 07
ARE TRUE, COMPLETE, AND CORRECT PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP WITH
THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT HELD ON FEBRUARY 25, 1998. A CERTIFIED COPY
OF MINUTES IS ON FILE AT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
________________________
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.
CITY SECRETARY
Minutes prepared by: Delia Rodriguez
Minutes approved on: