* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] . OKAY, THE [ Call to Order] TIME IS NOW 6:00 PM OUR SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR NOVEMBER 17TH, 2025 IS NOW IN SESSION. FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WESTBROOK WILL LEAD US WITH THE OPENING PRAYERS AND THE PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAGS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF TEXAS. PLEASE RISE, LET US BOW OUR HEADS. ETERNAL GOD, WE COME TOGETHER THIS EVENING WITH GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY AS WE GATHER FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK OF OUR CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AND FOR THE TRUST, OUR CITIZENS PLACE AND THOSE WHO LEAD. TONIGHT, WE LIFT UP OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND OUR RETURNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THEY PREPARE TO TAKE THEIR OATH, GRANT THEM CLARITY OF PURPOSE, STEADINESS OF HEART, AND THE WISDOM TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND COURAGE. MAY THEIR DECISIONS BE GUIDED NOT BY PERSONAL GAIN, BUT BY STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING OF EVERY RESIDENT THEY REPRESENT. BLESS THEIR FAMILIES WHO SUPPORT MAKES THEIR SERVICE POSSIBLE. STRENGTHEN THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM SO THAT TOGETHER THEY MAY NOT, THEY MAY BUILD ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PAST WHILE FORGING A PATH FORWARD. A BRIGHTER FUTURE HELP HELPS EACH OF US PRESENT OFFICIALS, STAFF, AND CITIZENS ALIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPIRIT OF RESPECT, UNITY, AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY REMIND US THAT GOOD GOVERNANCE IS NOT THE WORK OF THE ONE PERSON, BUT THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF MANY GROUNDED AND MUTUAL TRUST AND DESIRE TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD. MAY THIS MEETING AND THIS TERM AHEAD BE MARKED BY COOPERATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SINCERE DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY, ALL MEN. I PLEDGE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OBJECT. TEXAS STATE UNDER GOD ONE INVIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WESTBROOK. BEFORE I START, UH, I DO HAVE A COMMENT HERE. UH, WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER TIM BROWN'S BROTHERS WITH US IN THIS CHAMBER TONIGHT. JIM AND MATTHEW BROWN, PLEASE STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK GENTLEMEN. GENTLEMEN, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR HEALTH HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES ARE WITH YOU DURING THIS TIME OF PROFOUND LOSS. YOUR BROTHER'S SERVICE AND PRESENCE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED IN THIS CHAMBER AND IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. BEFORE WE YES, PLEASE, PLEASE, JIM. JIM, COME OVER HERE BY THE MIC. I, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT TIM JUST LOVED SHIRTS, THE SHIRTS COMMUNITY. HE LOVED SERVING ON THE COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING HIM AND ELECTING HIM. HE JUST LOVED IT DOWN HERE. THIS IS HIS HOME AND HIS FAMILY, SO I KNOW HE'D, UH, HE, HE JUST LOVED IT HERE. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING Y'ALL DID. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE PROCEED TO THE PRESENTATIONS, UH, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, UH, BEFORE THE PRESENTATIONS, MIKE IS OPEN. PLEASE, PLEASE STEP UP. YES, THAT'S KIND OF NICE. IT'S OKAY, . WELL, I FEEL STRANGE WITH MY BACK TO YOU, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, AS A RESIDENT, UH, MAYOR GUTIERREZ, I WANTED TO THANK YOU. THIS IS WEIRD. I'M GONNA GO THIS WAY. I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING COVID DURING SOME REALLY TROUBLING TIMES IN OUR CITY DURING SOME REALLY SCARY TIMES IN OUR CITY. UH, WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS ALIVE, HE JUST, HE REALLY ADMIRED HOW STRONG YOU WERE, HOW YOU NAVIGATED US THROUGH SOME REALLY, REALLY WEIRD TIMES WITH COVID THAT NONE OF US WERE PREPARED FOR. AND AS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESSES. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US DO INITIATIVES THAT CHANGED ORDINANCES THAT MADE IT MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY. [00:05:01] REALLY APPRECIATED EVERYTHING YOU DID IN YOUR SERVICE. AND NOW, UH, WE GIVE YOU BACK TO RAQUEL AND HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE SOME TIME TO RELAX AND ENJOY YOURSELF AND HAVE GOOD HEALTH. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S COMMENTS. IS THERE ANY, ANYONE ELSE, ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO, UH, SAY ANY COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE THAT OFF. ALL RIGHT, THANKS. [ Presentations] WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS. MS. EDMONDSON, OR, YES. YES. I'LL, I'LL STEP DOWN THERE. MR. MAYOR. UM, EVERYONE TONIGHT, PUBLIC SERVICE IS A VERY NOBLE THING. WHETHER YOU'RE VOLUNTEERING AT A, THE LIBRARY OR YOU'RE ON A BOARDS OR COMMISSION, UH, IT'S EVEN MORE CHALLENGING AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. AND TRUST ME, I'VE KNOWN FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HOW CHALLENGING COULD BE. UM, BUT IT, IT TAKES A LOT TO STEP UP AND SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY WHEN YOU COULD BE SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER OR YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. UM, PUTTING ALL THAT TO THE SIDE AND SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY IS A VERY, VERY GENEROUS THING TO DO. SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SHIRTZ AND THE CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE SOME PRESENTATIONS FOR UH, MAYOR GUTIERREZ. UH, FIRST IS THIS PLAQUE. UH, IT SAYS, MAYOR RALPH GUTIERREZ, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR DEDICATED, SELFLESS SERVICE TO OUR BELOVED CITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, YOU OF OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE, UH, YOU SERVED IN SEARCH CITY COUNCIL PLACE NUMBER TWO FROM NOVEMBER, 2016 TO NOVEMBER, UH, 2019, AND OUR MAYOR FROM 2019 AND NOVEMBER 20, UH, 2025. THANK YOU FOR LEADING WITH INTEGRITY AND HEART, MAKING SURE IT'S ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE NATION, AND A PLACE WE CAN PROUDLY CALL HOME AS A AND AS AS A TRADITION. THE CEREMONIAL STREET SIGN, RALPH GUTIERREZ, COUNCIL MEMBER 2016 AND 2019, AND MAYOR FROM 2019 TO 2025. UH, AND, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT KEEPING THE COUNCIL IN LINE, UH, BUT I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AS WHEN YOU WERE SERVING AS MAYOR, AND WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH, UH, A GAVEL TO DOCUMENT YOUR TIME SITTING IN THE BIG SEAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, RAQUEL, CAN YOU COME UP PLEASE? THANK YOU. PLEASURE. MR. MAYOR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU ALL. WE MADE HISTORY WITH THIS GAVEL. WELL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. LET ME GET STARTED BY SAYING, SERVING AS YOUR MAYOR HAS BEEN ONE OF MY GREATEST HONORS OF MY LIFE. I'M HUMBLED AND HONORED BY THE TRUST YOU PLACED IN ME. WE ARE BLESSED TO CALL THIS CITY OUR HOME, AND I'VE BEEN EQUALLY BLESSED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT SO SPECIAL TO EVERY RESIDENT WHO SUPPORTED, WHO OFFERED SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, OR A SIMPLE KIND WORD [00:10:01] OVER OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, I THANK YOU SINCERELY, YOUR FAITH IN ME, YOUR CONFIDENCE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WALK THIS ROAD TOGETHER HAS MEANT MORE THAN I COULD EVER BEGIN TO EXPRESS EVERY STEP OF THIS JOURNEY. EVERY CHALLENGE WE FACE, EVERY SUCCESS WE CELEBRATED, WE DID IT SIDE BY SIDE AND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, TO CITY STAFF AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. YOU ARE THE STEADY HEARTBEAT OF THIS COMMUNITY. YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, YOUR SACRIFICE, AND YOUR DEVOTION TO THE PEOPLE OF SHIRTS IS UNMATCHED. EVERY SUCCESS WE ACHIEVED, EVERY PROJECT COMPLETED, EVERY IMPROVEMENT MADE, AND EVERY MILESTONE REACH IS ROOTED IN YOUR HARD WORK. YOU ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS CITY. OUR PROGRESS IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF YOUR SERVICE, YOUR COURAGE, YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING AND UPLIFTING THE SPIRITS OF THIS OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, SEEN OR UNSEEN TO KEEP SHIRTS MOVING FORWARD. CITY SENIOR LEADERSHIP. YOU ARE THE STEADY HANDS IN THE STORM WHEN UNCERTAINTY WEIGHED ON EVERY DECISION. WHEN THE WORLD PAUSED, YOU DID NOT. YOUR COLLABORATION, YOUR EXPERTISE, YOUR CALM DURING CHAOS IS WHAT CARRIED US THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. WE LEANED ON ONE ANOTHER, WE TRUSTED ONE ANOTHER, AND TOGETHER WE LED THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH A CHAPTER THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR GENERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM AND FOR STANDING BESIDE ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL HAS AND PRESENT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY FOR THE HOURS YOU DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE. EVEN WHEN THE CONVERSATIONS WERE TOUGH AND EVEN WHEN THE DECISIONS WERE HEAVY, WE DID NOT ALWAYS SEE EVERY ISSUE THE SAME WAY. AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF LEADERSHIP. BUT OUR PURPOSE WAS SHARED TO DO THE BEST FOR THIS CITY. SHIRTS, THE PURPOSE NEVER WAVERED. AND THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY IS STRONG AND IN YOUR HANDS KEEP LEADING WITH INTENTION. KEEP LEADING WITH YOUR HEARTS AND KEEP MOVING SHIRTS FORWARD WITH COURAGE. CONVICTION. THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES TO MY COLLEAGUES. AT THE NORTHEAST PARTNERSHIP, WE BUILD SOMETHING SPECIAL TOGETHER, WE WORK TOGETHER FOR SOMETHING GREATER THAN ANY ONE OF OUR CITIES ALONE. WE UNITED OUR STRENGTHS, OUR VOICES, OUR VISION. AND BECAUSE OF THAT UNITY, WE DELIVERED REAL RESULTS FOR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS OUR REGION. WE SECURED OPPORTUNITIES, EXPANDED INFRASTRUCTURE, ELEVATED OUR COMMUNITIES SIDE BY SIDE. SERVING AS YOUR CHAIR HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS OF MY PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER. AND NOW I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. CONTINUE THE WORK, CONTINUE THE COLLABORATION BECAUSE TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER. OUR CITY, SECRETARIES, OFFICE, SHEILA, SHEREE, MELISSA, AND IRE, YOU ARE THE QUIET STRENGTH THAT HOLDS OUR GOVERNANCE TOGETHER. YOU ENSURE OUR RECORDS WERE PROTECTED, OUR MEETINGS WERE SEAMLESS, AND THE PUBLIC REMAINED INFORMED WITH CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE. YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR COMMITMENT, AND YOUR STEADY PRESENCE. THOSE QUALITIES ARE THE HEARTBEAT BEHIND EVERYTHING WE ACCOMPLISH IN THIS CHAMBER. I WILL MISS YOU ALL DEEPLY. YOU EACH HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. AND THIS CITY IS BETTER BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THEN THERE'S ONE PERSON WHOSE PRESENCE MADE EVERY STEP POSSIBLE. SOMEONE WHO CARRIED THE SAME PASSION OF THIS CITY THAT I DID, SOMEONE WHO WALKED THIS ROAD WITH ME, STEP FOR STEP YEAR AFTER YEAR. [00:15:01] MY BIGGEST CRITIC, MY NUMBER ONE SUPPORTER, MY EVERYTHING FOR THE PAST 48 PLUS YEARS. MY ROCK. THANK YOU FOR WALKING BESIDE ME, NEVER BEHIND ME, NEVER AHEAD OF ME, JUST WITH ME. THIS JOURNEY WAS OURS AND I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT AND REFLECT ON NEARLY A DECADE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. I AM REMINDED OF JUST HOW FAR WE WE COME AND HOW MUCH WE ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. LOOKING BACK MY FIRST THREE MONTHS AS A ROOKIE MAYOR, THE WORLD CHANGED. ALMOST OVERNIGHT A PANDEMIC BROUGHT LIFE TO A SUDDEN. TO A SUDDEN, HAL, WE NAVIGATED MASS MANDATES, BUSINESS CLOSURES, FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY, AND WE DID IT WITH COURAGE AND COMPASSION. NOT LONG AFTER WE FACED A BLACK LIVES MATTER INCIDENT THAT PLACED SHIRTS ON THE NATIONAL NEWS SCENE CHALLENGING US TO LEAD WITH CLARITY, UNITY, AND RESOLVE. FURTHERMORE, OUR CITY HOSTED MONTHS OF VACCINE CLINICS HELPING OUR COMMUNITY FIND ITS WAY BACK TO SAFETY. AND THEN CAME WINTER STORMER WHEN THE PRIORITY AND THE FOCUS WAS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND PREVENT WATER CONTAMINATION CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY. ALL THOSE WERE NOT ORDINARY CHALLENGES AND THAT WAS NOT AN ORDINARY ROOKIE YEAR. AND BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, LET ME BE CLEAR. I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED. I'M HONORED THE YEARS WE SPENT PUSHING THE CITY FORWARD, STEP BY STEP, DECISION BY DECISION, ALWAYS WITH SHIRT'S, BEST INTEREST AT HEART. AND TODAY, WHEN I LOOK ACROSS THIS COMMUNITY, I DON'T JUST SEE POLICIES OR IN PROJECTS, I SEE A VISION BECOMING A REALITY. TAKE SHIRT STATION RISING FROM A SIMPLE IDEA INTO A DESTINATION. I SEE HOME, HOME DEPOT OPENING ITS DOORS AFTER YEARS OF PEOPLE SAYING IT COULDN'T BE DONE. I SEE NEW BUSINESSES CHOOSING SHIRTS BECAUSE THEY FINALLY RECOGNIZE WHAT I RECOGNIZE FROM THE START. THE POTENTIAL OF THIS CITY IS REMARKABLE. LET ME BE DIRECT. OUR PROGRESS DIDN'T STOP AT THE EDGE OF OUR CITY LIMITS. IT REACHED FURTHER. WE CULTIVATED STATE AND FEDERAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT DELIVERED REAL TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLE OF SHIRTS BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A FULL-TIME MAYOR THAT SHOWS UP, SPEAKS UP AND V FUSES TO BE IGNORED, YOU UNLOCKED OPPORTUNITIES. THAT IS EXACTLY HOW WE SECURED $3.5 MILLION FROM CONGRESSMAN VICENTE GONZALEZ FOR THE CORBIT WATER STORAGE FACILITY, A PROJECT THAT STRENGTHENED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PREPARED OUR CITY FOR THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS STANDING WITH SENATOR TED CRUZ TO ADVOCATE FOR DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TO WASHINGTON DC AND ADDITIONALLY, I HAD THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCING SENATOR CRUZ AT A NATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE LAST SEPTEMBER. A MOMENT THAT UNDERSCORED THE RESPECT OUR CITY HAS EARNED. AND WHEN PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRED ACTION THREE PARTNERSHIP WITH CONGRESSMAN HENRY QUAY, WE SECURED $1 MILLION IN A FEDERAL GRANT TO PUT NEW POLICE CRUISERS AND FIVE GUADALUPE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES TO INCLUDE TWO RIGHT HERE IN SHIRTZ. AND FOR ME, IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE BLUE OR THE RED. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE. WE ARE UNITED BY THE BY THE VALUES WE SHARE AND THE FLAG WE STAND UNDER. AND UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, WE WORK THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUSED ON GREEN SPACE AND PARK EXPANSIONS. WE INTRODUCE QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES, FOCUSING ON EVENTS TO ENHANCE FAMILY QUALITY OF LIFE. EVERY IMPROVEMENT, EVERY PARTNERSHIP, EVERY OPPORTUNITY WAS BUILT ON COMMITMENT, SACRIFICE, AND THE [00:20:01] BELIEF THAT SHIRTS DESERVES THE BEST. I PROBABLY LED THIS COMMUNITY WITH A VISION, INTEGRITY, CONVICTION AND HEART RECREATED MEMORIES, MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME. SOME MEMORIES WILL BE, WILL BE SOME MEMORIES WILL BLUR WITH TIME. BUT OTHERS CAUSE THEMSELVES SO DEEPLY INTO MY HEART THAT WHAT THEY WOULD NEVER ESCAPE MY MIND. I REMEMBER THOSE WHO STOOD BY ME AND GAVE ME THEIR SUPPORT TO MOVE SHIRTS FORWARD. I REMEMBER THOSE WHO WERE WILLING TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES, SHOW UP EARLY AND STAY LATE. I TREASURE THE ONES WHO SHARPEN MY THINKING, THE ONES WHO UPLIFTED MY SPIRIT, THE ONES WHO CHALLENGED ME, THE ONES WHO INSPIRED ME AND REMINDED ME THAT LEADERSHIP IS SERVICE NOT STATUS. I CHOSE TO SERVE, NOT BE SERVED. I REMEMBER THE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT OF PROJECT FLAG LINE WHEN THOUSANDS OF UX FLAGS LINED THE PARKWAY DURING THE 4TH OF JULY. I REMEMBER MOVING ON MAIN WHEN FAMILIES AND THEIR KIDS PLAYED ON MAIN STREET AND SHIRTS FELT LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY. I WILL REMEMBER THE TRADITIONS THAT BECAME THE RHYTHM OF WHO WE ARE. NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE MY IDEAS, BUT BECAUSE YOU, THE COMMUNITY EMBRACED THEM AND MADE THEM COME ALIVE. THESE MEMORIES ARE THE SOUL OF THIS CITY. I STEPPED INTO THIS ROW FOR ONE REASON, TO MAKE SHIRTS A STRONGER CITY. SAFER AND MORE CONNECTED SHIRTS HAS MOVED FORWARD AND WE ARE SAFER AND STRONGER. AS YOU KNOW NOW. WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE SAFEST CITY IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. AND NUMBER NINE, SAFEST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I LEAVE THE, I LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY IN A WITH A POSITIVE MOMENTUM, STABILITY AND A VISION FOR STRONG ECONOMIC SECURITY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE LONG AFTER TONIGHT. MY JOURNEY DOES NOT END HERE. THIS MOMENT IS NOT A GOODBYE. IT'S SIMPLY THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ADVENTURE. AS I TRANS TRANSITION FROM THIS ROLE, I LOOK BACK WITH DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE YOU PLACED IN ME AND THE PROGRESS WE MADE. I STAND HERE FILLED WITH APPRECIATION, IMMENSE PRIDE, AND HOPE FOR THE CHAPTERS YET TO BE WRITTEN, SERVING AS YOUR NINTH. THE NINTH MAYOR OF CHURCH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MY GREATEST HONORS. AND AS I MOVE INTO THE NEXT SEASON, I'M FILLED WITH PURPOSE AND A JOY FOR LIFE. AFTER NEARLY A DECADE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO LIGHTEN MY SCHEDULE AND RETURN TO THE THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY. IT'S TIME TO HIT THE PAVEMENT AND RUN THE PARKWAY, AND THIS TIME NOT HAVE TO SPRINT BACK TO CITY HALL. THE TRUTH IS, I HAVE MORE YEARS BEHIND ME THAN I DO AHEAD OF ME. AND I WILL LIVE THEM WITH INTENTION, WITH PURPOSE, AND WITH A PACE THAT FINALLY MATCHES MY HEARTBEAT. TOMORROW THE SUN WILL RISE IN CHURCHS AS IT ALWAYS DOES. THE SOUND OF FREEDOM WILL ECHO ACROSS THE SKIES AND SHIRTS WILL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH STRENGTH AND PRIDE. AND THOUGH MY TERM AS A NINTH MAYOR COMES TO A NATURAL CLOSE, MY COMMITMENT FOR THIS CITY REMAINS STRONG. SO TONIGHT WITH A RAINBOW AT MY BACK, A SMILE ON MY FACE. AND YES, A LITTLE MIST IN MY EYES. I SAY FAREWELL AS YOUR MAYOR, BUT NEVER AS YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOUR FRIEND, AND NEVER AS SOMEONE WHO CARES SO DEEPLY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SHIRTS. THANK YOU FOR WALKING THIS JOURNEY WITH ME. THANK YOU FOR THE CONFIDENCE TO SERVE YOU. MAY GOD BLESS YOU. MAY GOD BLESS THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. GOD BLESS TEXAS. GOD BLESS AMERICA. THANK YOU SHIRTS FOR THE HONOR TO SERVE YOU AS YOUR NINTH MAYOR AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF YOUR TIME. [00:25:56] OKAY, [ Hearing of Residents This time is set aside for any person who wishes to address the City Council. Each person should fill out the speaker’s register prior to the meeting. Presentations should be limited to no more than 3 minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body, and not to any individual member thereof. Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks while addressing the Council may be requested to leave the meeting. All handouts and/or USB devices must be submitted to the City Secretary no later than noon on the Monday preceding the meeting. Handouts will be provided to each Councilmember prior to the start of the meeting by the City Secretary. All USB devices will be vetted by City IT staff to ensure City property is protected from malware. Discussion by the Council of any item not on the agenda shall be limited to statements of specific factual information given in response to any inquiry, a recitation of existing policy in response to an inquiry, and/or a proposal to place the item on a future agenda. The presiding officer, during the Hearing of Residents portion of the agenda, will call on those persons who have signed up to speak in the order they have registered.] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS HEARING OF RESIDENTS. THIS TIME IS SET ASIDE FOR ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL. EACH PERSON SHOULD HAVE FILLED OUT THE SPEAKER'S REGISTRATION PRIOR TO THE MEETING. PRESENTATION SHOULD BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN THREE MINUTES. AND AS A REMINDER, ALL REMARKS SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO THE COUNCIL AS A BODY AND NOT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER THEREOF, ANY PERSON MAKING PERSONNEL IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS WHILE ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL MAY BE REQUESTED TO LEAVE THE MEETING. FIRST ON THE SIGNING, TONIGHT WE HAVE MR. DANA ELDRIDGE. AND AS A REMINDER, PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU CAN BEND THE MICROPHONE BACK. DANA ELDRIDGE, TWO SIX TWO EIGHT GALLANT FOX DRIVE, SHORTZ, TEXAS 7 8 1 0 8. I COME TO YOU TONIGHT AS A CITIZEN OF SHIRTS. WE HAD AN ELECTION HERE. UH, TWO OF YOU'RE SITTING UP THERE, GOT YOUR SEATS, RETI REASSIGNED TO YOU. WE'RE GONNA FILL A NEW CHAIR. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ELECTIONS I'VE SEEN IN 30 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE IN SHIRTS. A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED ABOUT IT. SOME OF THE WORDS THAT WERE STATED WE'RE CITIZENS OF SHIRTS. FOLKS WE'RE NOT YOUR ENEMY. I WAS CALLED AN ENEMY IN A MEETING WHERE YOU HAD, WE WERE MEETING ALL THE CANDIDATES. I WAS CALLED AN ENEMY. WE'RE NOT ENEMIES. WE'RE THE CITIZENS OF SHIRTS. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE, BUT WE'RE NOT YOUR ENEMIES WHEN WE DO THAT. AS NEW COUNCIL TAKES PLACE AND A NEW MAYOR ARE GONNA BE SITTING UP HERE, REMEMBER THAT WE'RE NOT YOUR ENEMIES. WE COME UP HERE SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE HAVE VALID POINTS. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION, LET US KNOW. BUT COME TO US. TELL US, BE TRANSPARENT WITH US. COMMUNICATE TO US WE'RE NOT YOUR ENEMIES. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE'RE HERE AS CITIZENS OF SHIRTS BECAUSE WE LOVE SHIRTS, WE WANT TO BE HERE AND WE DON'T WANT TO, WE WANNA STAY HERE, BUT TREAT US WITH RESPECT AS WE TRY TO TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT. BUT WE'RE NOT YOUR ENEMIES. UH, NEXT WE HAVE MR. RICHARD MOSS. RICHARD MOSS, 34 34 WIMBLEDON DRIVE. BASICALLY I JUST WANTED TO WELCOME THE NEW MAYOR AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. THEY'RE GONNA BE BACK FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS AND HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD, I'VE BEEN WITH THE IN MY HOUSE FOR 35 YEARS. I NEVER MOVED TO SHIRTS. SHIRTS MOVED TO ME 20 YEARS AGO. SO ANYWAYS, WHEN I STARTED OUT THERE WAS 10,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF SHIRTS. NOW THERE'S 50,000, SO THERE'S FIVE TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE. BUT TO ME THE BIGGEST ISSUE AT THE CITY RIGHT NOW AT THE CITY LEVEL IS INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE FIVE TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT. AND MY BIG THING GOING FORWARD IS WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE WE TRY TO ADD MORE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE [1. Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem - Discussion, consideration, and/or action regarding the confirmation, appointment, or election of the Mayor Pro Tem (Mayor/Council) Oath of Office ] HAVE OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. FIRST ITEM IS APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND OR ACTION REGARDING THE CONFIRMATION APPOINTMENT AND ELECTION OF A MAYOR PRO TEM. MS. EDMONDSON. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL STAFF AND RESIDENTS. THE FIRST ITEM UNDER DISCUSSION ACTION IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM. ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2025, [00:30:01] THE MAYOR PRO TEM POSITION BECAME VACANT. THE CURRENT MAYOR PRO TEM APPOINTMENT ENDS FEBRUARY OF 2026. COUNCIL MEMBER MARK DAVIS HAS GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO FINISH OUT THE CURRENT MAYOR PRO TEM APPOINTMENT. THE NEXT MAYOR PRO TEM ROTATION WILL BE IN FEBRUARY, 2026 AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARK DAVIS WILL BE NEXT IN ROTATION AS MAYOR PRO TEM WITH THE APPOINTMENT ENDING IN AUGUST OF 2026. OKAY. COUNCIL, IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION FOR MAYOR PRO TEM? I MOVE THIS FOR MARK DAVIS. COUNCILMAN, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A SECOND. OKAY, THANK YOU. YEAH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION BY UH, COUNCILWOMAN AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WESTBROOK. OKAY. UM, MR. WILLIAMS, CAN YOU HANDLE THE, UH, THE MONITOR FROM DOWN THERE IF EVERYBODY WOULD TO PLEASE CAST OR VOTE? OKAY. CAN WE, UH, HAVE THE VOTE PLEASE? WE HAVE SIX AYES, NO NAYS. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. DAVIS. IF YOU COULD PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND REPEAT AFTER ME. AYE. STATE YOUR NAME. I'M MARK DAVIS. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF MAYOR PRO TEM OF MAYOR PRO TEM AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OF THIS STATE. AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. MY STEPS IN TONIGHT. OKAY. NEXT ITEM [2. Resolution 25-R-154 - Approving the canvassing of the election returns and declaring the results of the November 4, 2025 General Election (Mayor/Council/S.Edmondson)] ON THE AGENDA IS RESOLUTION 25 R 1 54, APPROVING THE CANVASSING OF THE ELECTION RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 GENERAL ELECTION. MS. EDMONDSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PROM DAVIS COUNSEL AND STAFF. TONIGHT I BRING FORWARD RESOLUTION 25 R 1 54, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE CANVASSING OF THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 GENERAL ELECTION AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF SUCH ELECTION. THE GENERAL ELECTION WAS HELD IN THE CITY OF SHIRTS ON THE 4TH OF NOVEMBER, 2025 TO ELECT A MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE ONE AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE TWO FOR A THREE YEAR TERM. THE TABULATION OF VOTES CAST TO ELECT A MAYOR AND ONE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR PLACE ONE AND TWO IN THE GENERAL ELECTION ARE PRESENTED IN THE OFFICIAL CANVAS OF THE RETURNS OF SAID GENERAL ELECTION. THE RESULTS OF THE SHOWN BELOW REFLECTS THE FOLLOWING RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION IN THE MA IN THE, UM, THE MAYOR'S RACE. MR. RALPH RODRIGUEZ RECEIVED 3049 VOTES. MR. GUTIERREZ RECEIVED 29, EXCUSE ME, 2,945 VOTES. MR. RODRIGUEZ IS NOW DECLARED THE ELECTED, UM, ELECTED OFFICE TO THE MAYOR. THE SECOND RACE, MR. MARQUE DAVIS, HAS BEEN REELECTED WITH 4,625 VOTES FOR COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE ONE THE LAST RACE, MS. MICHELLE WATSON WITH 3,534 VOTES IS REELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE TWO. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UH, ELECTION RESULTS? THE COUNCILING SECOND. A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HAYWARD, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WESTBROOK ALL. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. MAY UH, IT WAS, THERE WAS A CORRECTION. IT WAS, UH, COUNCILMAN GUERRERO. OH, I'M SORRY. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GUERRERO. THANK YOU. [00:35:03] AND WE HAVE THE RESULTS PLEASE. MR. GUERRERO. COUNCILMAN GUERRERO PUBLISH. WE HAVE SIX AYES. NO NAYS. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS [3. Resolution 25-R-155 Approving the ordering and declaring the November 2025 Special Election as approved by the voters of the City of Schertz (Mayor/Council/S.Edmondson)] RESOLUTION 25 R 1 55 APPROVING AND ORDERING, UH, APPROVING THE ORDERING AND DECLARING THE NUMBER 2025 SPECIAL ELECTION AS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SHIRTS. MS. EDMONDSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM COUNCIL CITY STAFF. A SPECIAL ELECTION WAS HELD IN THE CITY OF SHIRTS ON THE FOURTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF A SPECIFIC AREA PURSUANT TO SECTION 43.0117 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER SUCH AREA AS SITUATED WITHIN THE CITY OF SHIRTS, EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, UH, WITHIN FIVE MILES OF A JOINT BASED SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH BOUNDARY SHOULD BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY OR WHETHER THE CITY SHALL BE PROVIDED THE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE LAND USE IN THE AREA IN THE MANNER OF MOST RECOMMENDED BY THE MOST RECENT JOINT LAND USE STUDY. OPTION ONE WAS YES, ANNEXATION SHALL EXCUSE ME, YES. FOR ANNEXATION THE QUESTION, UH, PROPOSITION WAS, SHALL THE CITY ASSURE ITS ANNEX FOR FULL PURPOSES? CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY'S EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE JOINT BASED SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH. OPTION ONE RECEIVED FIVE VOTES. OPTION NUMBER TWO, NO ANNEXATION. THE LAND USE REGULATIONS SHALL ALLOW THE CITY ASSERTS WITH AUTHORITY TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE LAND USE IN THE CITY'S EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE JOINT BASED SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH IN THE MANNER RECOMMENDED IN THE MOST RECENT JOINT LAND USE STUDY. OPTION TWO RECEIVED 107 VOTES. VOTERS HAVE SELECTED OPTION TWO. THANK YOU MS. EDMONDSON. UH, COUNSEL, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER, 2025 SPECIAL ELECTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. SECOND. GOT A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MACALUSO AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN OR COUNCILWOMAN HAYWARD. UH, COUNCIL, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. UH, CAN WE HAVE THE RESULTS PLEASE? WE HAVE SIX AYES. NO, NO NAYS. THE MOTION PASSES. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE [4. Oath of Office (S.Edmondson/S.Courney) Mayor: Ralph Rodriguez Comments by Mayor Place 1: Mark E. Davis Comments by Mark E. Davis Place 2: Michelle Watson Comments by Michelle Watson] OATH OF OFFICE. MS. EDMONDSON. WE'LL START WITH THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE INCOMING MAYOR. MAYOR RALPH RODRIGUEZ. YES, SIR. MR. RALPH RODRIGUEZ WILL BE SWORN IN BY HONORABLE JOHN TERRY SEAT. HAVE YOU UP HERE. AYE. AYE. SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF MAYOR. MAYOR WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE BILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. OF THE UNITED STATES. [00:40:54] THIS IS A TRADITION THAT TIM BROWN COUNCIL, SO NOW I PRESENT EVERYBODY, THERE WE GO. OKAY. I DO WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT. UM, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I PUT MY HAT IN THE RACE TO BE ABLE TO RUN AND BE THE MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF CHURCH IS BECAUSE I NOTICED IT WAS A LOT OF DIVISION A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I USED TO WORK FOR THE CHURCH FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WERE KNOWN AS A FRIENDLY CITY AND I FEEL LIKE WE'VE KIND OF GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT. AND THEN I FEEL LIKE IT'S A TIME THAT WE ALL UNITE AND WE ALL DO BECOME ONE AND NOT BE DIVIDED. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SHIRTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF AND I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL PLACE, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER MARK DAVIS WILL BE SWORN IN BY DEPUTY CITY SECRETARY CHERIE KEARNEY. AND AFTERWARDS, COUNCILMAN MARK DAVIS MAY MAKE SOME COMMENTS. I AND STATE YOUR NAME. I MARK DAVIS. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF COUNCIL MEMBER, PLACE ONE OF COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE ONE AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OF THIS STATE. AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD, I'LL TRY TO BE SHORT. UM, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UH, I WANT TO THANK EVERY ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO, UH, HAVE SUPPORTED MY RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL. UH, THIS IS MY FOURTH TIME UP. UH, AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE GOOD COMMENTS THAT I GET ALL THE TIME. UH, YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND YOUR BELIEF IN THE POSSIBILITY OF POSITIVE CHANGE HAS MEANT MORE TO ME THAN I CAN EXPRESS AND IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOPE, COMMITMENT, AND THE COMMUNITY. AS THE NEW COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD, I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH EVERYONE. TO BUILD A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT CITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES, STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY THROUGH TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION, AND INVESTING IN LOCAL BUSINESSES. THAT COMMUNITY, UM, SPACES THAT BRING US TOGETHER JUST AS IMPORTANT. I'LL KEEP LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE BEST VISION AND THE BEST SOLUTIONS COME FROM THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY AND, AND LIVE HERE EVERY DAY. UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TRUST AND SUPPORT AND TOGETHER WE CAN MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD. THANK YOU AGAIN. [00:45:08] THANK YOU SIR. COUNSEL, PLEASE. TWO. MS. MICHELLE WATSON WILL BE SWORN IN BY HONORABLE JOHN TERRY. AND THEN AFTERWARDS SHE WILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS. THANK YOU. RIGHT HAND REPEAT AFTER ME PLEASE. I STATE YOUR NAME. I MICHELLE WATSON. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM AND AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE DUTIES OF COUNCIL MEMBER, POLICE TWO, COUNCIL MEMBER, POLICE TWO, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND. AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE AND THIS STATE. TO HELP ME, GOD, TO HELP ME GOD. DO ANY OF THE CITY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE CLOSE? I WAS GONNA SAY SOMETHING, I'M SORRY. OH, GO AHEAD. I AM HONORED TO EARN THE SUPPORT SO WE CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER. THANK YOU EVERYBODY THAT VOTED FOR ME. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. ANY, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. THIS MEETING'S ADJOURNED AT 6 47 OH, GO AHEAD. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THERE'S A LIGHT RECEPTION HERE IN THE COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM AND EVERYONE PLEASE JOIN US. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.