City of Laredo, Texas Laredo Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability, 13 Jul 2023

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From YouTube: Laredo Center for Urban Agriculture & Sustainability Meeting, 07/13/2023

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Laredo Center for Urban Agriculture & Sustainability Meeting, 07/13/2023

A

A

Oh anybody signed up.

A

Yeah I love the record showing or no public comments. No people signed up um the interim president report that gave me so the biggest and I I think I can email.

A

We have finally gotten our letter of determination from the IRS.

A

Does anybody thank you.

A

I have allergies, sometimes, when I come to buildings on something so I'm. Forgive me: I start to sleep.

A

A

Still an extension of the city as defined by the Texas Transportation code and how we're um how we, how we were creative and it's a big deal. But.

A

That we have our 501c3, because otherwise the city is the only entity that can submit grants on our behalf. So now I'll see you later grants on their own behalf and solicit donations and and things like that,.

A

Sorry we had a the Food Town Event the Symposium, and we did some sponsorship that we got very quickly in a very short amount of time and some of that sponsorship. Money helped to.

A

But um I think we're the city maker is going to write over a check to I'll, see uas for about 3 500 4500 was well.

B

Probably no, we already okay.

A

So um so I'll see you as we'll get the balance of that.

A

We'll get the Symposium won't be done. Bye, I'll see you as well. Hopefully you know, I cannot tell you how surprising it was.

A

You yeah and I do think that it has a lot of legs. um The format was good. It was a good idea.

C

A

It was fun um we, it was a you know like we didn't want to over. Do it because it's the first time- and you know you don't want to fall flat on our faces and get criticized you know like it was not well done, but definitely.

A

um It was really it was great uh Mark Winnie did you.

A

Just a huge article on on the Symposium, he called several people at the uh city council who attended all the events, except for the last one right. The I don't know if she was there.

A

uh Cauldron spoke to her about the project for the river and he tied a lot of the storyline.

A

I think he's. Definitely, you know uh I mean you know where his political lines are. So you can imagine it's a little bit skewed on the in our in laredo's favor I believe anyway. So.

A

He has a a big following, and so it's going to get out there um so I'd like to move well further.

D

Give your midterm sorry, your secretary report, yeah, so um I went ahead and sent the minutes already. uh Maria was nice enough to edit on the folder, but if anybody wants a copy of them.

D

um And yeah, so one of the things that happened in the last reading was that we had a motion to approve uh change in our certificate of formation to make sure that lcuas is, has a charitable purpose. Language attached to it, which.

D

You know be a little bit more explicit with that, so that it would facilitate the 501 CPU process and, with the end said, really took the lead on all of that. So thank you so much for getting that going and you know for giving us a good news, so I hope.

D

A

Officially and.

D

Retroactively the um nominated as the Environmental Services representative um and we're still pending uh academic sector.

D

um Just letting her know about the possibility I still have yet to hear back from her, but when I catch her in person I'll remind.

C

D

And I said: hey, you know if you or if anyone that you know might be a good fit for this position. Let us know and I mean.

D

As a academic sector representative, um let them know that you know come to a meeting, get.

A

To know us a little bit and you.

D

Know vote on it that same day, or we can put it on their next agenda because it's been there for.

D

For the secretary's report um so yeah any questions.

D

Okay, so oh, and that section.

A

A

E

Two uh accept the minutes as pretended anyway.

A

All those in favor.

C

A

C

I'm taking the director's report.

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E

It's a executive director of rhino reveals our balances are thin at a little over 17 000.

E

You have to write a checkup to TDL for insurance for 215.

E

um I do want to ask okay, we have a PO box right and and we're spending it's like 300 a year and I'm not really seeing a purpose in it, because we get maybe one there from TDL a year.

A

And actually they really prefer.

E

A

A

Okay, so um I will so how do I get you? The balance.

A

The sponsorship funding from Foodtown I've got 3 500, do I, send do I, just give it to you or would.

E

You check who else here yet.

A

I'll see you I ask yeah.

E

A

Okay, we'll give it to you guys do this after this meeting.

A

Do we have to accept the report yeah.

A

Next item executive director report, Jose Luis.

F

F

South Texas Food Bank. We are establishing our first.

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Days, I sent us about 120 crates plastic crates, so we can use them to harvest next season.

F

Of organic fertilizers, seeds and whole first sorts of gardening tools.

F

With them they are going to start sending me the produce, and that is not a good to distribute. So we're going to compose that in the garden.

F

So we are starting that we are working. The environments, I I, have a business here, she's the.

F

Difficult season of the year for me, because nobody wants to go to the Garden during Union.

F

The crew from Mr coach, Gomez, the city Forester Mr, Victor Mavado, has been super supportive with me and his crew, so we're doing miracles in the garden right right now.

A

A

Methodist yeah.

F

Greek unification, for it you are going to. We want to participate in those two qualities.

F

Strong and compelling project we are, we we would be invited to apply for these to to run opportunities. Also, I'm super happy that we have the 501 already because I know what that.

F

He's in our ideas, I think that kind of phrase that we can develop, that we have been developing in the past with our friends and the new ideas that we can come up with and the 501 we we are going to get some reaction.

E

It's not on here, but we need on on the agendas for every meeting um the line item that said that states uh Grant update discussion uh with possible action.

E

Because we need to be able to approve any grants and our meetings and we don't have it on the agenda, then we can't do it. So just if one does come up with, we.

E

See one back in the last one I think was in November.

F

uh It's item 12. and, and my last note would be.

F

A fridge a commercial bridge, but we don't have work to have it I know. We have another fridge that we can install it's not just a matter of having a communication with.

F

Or storage room or something to have those reaches. Where do you learn installed and, of course,.

F

A

Getting to the point that you need a place and um anyways are there any I'd like to ask um if the.

B

Often do you change out the garden so gardening to me is amazing that you have different growing seasons and then things grow on Harvest and you plan again.

B

um I remember is.

B

Brooklyn Michelle Obama got to the White House and she installed Gardens and then they had produce in three months go figure and there was.

B

Talking about the must be fake, how could you just do it in three months? These.

C

B

C

B

It is, and um so I'd be interested in.

F

We can start planning well, we are planning for August and September. We are we. We normally have four.

C

F

Crops for uh fall and then for summer We have tree lifting updates.

F

Do not help enough help so.

F

If you ask me, I need a groundskeeper, at least for a part-time economic.

F

B

In the Sun, the.

F

Should be there it from 8 to 11 and in the afternoon seven to nine to be safe, because we.

A

Can have our heat stroke or something here, yeah.

A

They don't have basic things like they have to take the water, because there's no room.

F

In the truck and I always have water.

F

Right and they don't have a permanent restroom, for example. We were there yesterday and this morning.

E

C

Not practical to.

E

Have like one of those tents you know like um and then move it and then we'll see.

F

F

Home and take a shower, we have here yeah.

F

F

um Do you have space for a small building small office well in I, remember back in the day when my the pirate, we were discussing about the carriage house to yeah to have it ready for a current office, but then I believe.

F

The conditions to to be yeah.

F

But do you have another space or not well have been in in the first world?

F

It's not open to you. Oh it's, not opportunity.

F

I, don't know, I, don't enter Because.

F

They are using it to store the Christmas decor.

C

B

Yeah but very briefly, a long time ago, and how how much space would you need foreign.

B

If you've been in there is there.

F

Sure a couple of sofas, no.

A

But you've been in there she's asking which room? Would you behold.

A

That when you enter there's.

F

A I think there's a space on the right just simply for the bathrooms and.

A

E

It makes sense for sure.

F

I know the second floor is not uh know. Was their camera not safe? No but I. Remember coach Gomez said that they were going to install some.

E

Yeah I thought I remember something about cameras.

A

Okay, so I guess if you had that ability to say hey volunteers, yes, you know.

F

C

F

The office that you need for the 5123- oh that's, that's empty hello.

F

After two years, yeah.

A

And? Is that something that you yeah.

B

A

B

House keeps coming up because I was complaining to the city manager that I.

B

Think money is it going to take to run this and how much money should it take and.

B

Customers can just leave their magic wand. It's very unsolent.

B

So I'll ask for a meeting and- and we start there and see how we can apply it and take a tour and see really what kind of space you need will.

A

Be after the the refrigerators don't fit in there, but.

A

C

Other day, if they're.

A

In the ground floor or anything like that and.

F

We've we could have a okay.

F

So your old department is under Parks.

C

E

Dr Chambers.

A

So it's not just an office. It's like there's a about 60 volunteers that.

A

C

A

Hours there for like, if they.

F

Had to do community service or something like that for court order and.

A

You have some Job Corps people, clothes, sometimes.

F

Right, hey, hopefully, they'll start.

A

Disconnected as this there's no like, we need some basic stuff, especially I mean these.

C

Kind of greetings over there, okay.

B

So I'll uh I'll contact to set it up from hopefully next week. Sure.

A

F

That's so funny: okay,.

A

Any other questions or comments.

A

um Food policy Council update.

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um So right now we're working on.

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um I am the project coordinator for the food policy Council um right now we're working on a packet to present.

B

For a healthier food system, which we've been working on for the last year,.

B

So we're just implementing the changes from.

C

B

Please talk and from those two things we're just implementing.

B

Here and there, but we should be ready to present on July 31st at the council meeting. So if any of you would like to.

A

Come it's going to have to be put on.

F

Skip this one, just because.

B

Well, so the next meeting will be.

F

August 7th.

F

So it might give you more time to talk because.

B

There is because our stuff is at the end and everybody else interrupts and gets yeah. You know um that you that you might and it might get bumped to August.

A

To compile our information for the six months of the biennial report Brian and where do those come in on.

A

um What happened I think he published it there and I don't know.

A

Maybe it's not a.

F

Well, you just you you, uh you put all your minutes from every meeting uh unattended report, then you bind it and you resubmit so that they show that the actual group is having meetings.

F

Submit our minutes and who's been who's been going. Okay,.

A

E

Yes and his executive.

A

Reports and I've talked to him about what to submit, to show show off.

A

When do you once once gets due tomorrow? Oh my gosh I already have it I'm just missing the coverage? Look at her? No, but you don't have his executive.

C

Director's reports.

B

A

Sent it to me electronically, because he.

B

Wanted me to put them up.

A

So it's actually due tomorrow, yes and there's no, no.

C

Way, oops I laid a few days.

C

A

You done it already have you already sent yours.

C

D

Well, throughout.

F

The year she's just putting everything right, but.

C

Because she's been there forever.

F

um I believe, if I'm not mistaken, it's at the sixth month and then end of the year.

A

Right, okay, so I'll have a letter for you today, yeah.

C

Everything else is ready everything.

A

A

Did a presentation to council so that well.

F

The PowerPoint presented here a couple of months ago.

A

Yeah yeah and then we did another.

F

I do have my braces.

A

Okay, all right glad, I asked okay, all right um so.

B

At a week for the next week,.

C

B

um Our next Symposium so.

A

I, the next one, the food policy council- did, they decided the date should.

C

Be in April.

C

D

I think it's really good in.

C

D

Yeah, yes, and then we have the date set.

B

April would be.

F

Like I said date,.

A

No, but it's if you want to reach out to them.

A

So before I I I'm I've been the most. You know everybody here. No one says.

C

A

Forgot to ask people to introduce themselves, but we haven't met them.

B

And I'm a volunteer.

B

C

D

A

Okay, do you all know each other um I'm, a better son, I, think.

E

A

E

I'm Bobby Gonzalez um from the restaurant sector, um my wife and I own, a couple thousand seven.

B

The house is beautiful. Thank.

C

A

A

I guess what oh I'm, sorry Maria I think I was no! Please introduce yourself.

A

A

At first I guess, we still have a couple of days to tell you whether we should go on the 31st or the 7th, even though we you're gonna just.

B

I'm thinking it won't go until the 7th um so.

B

If everybody were to go right and then they have to go again.

B

Sometimes that works, that's how it tends to be right. I, the I think the gem is a mess.

F

B

They bounce back and forth and then because it we're compacting it into five weeks into one sure.

A

Because we need to actually we wanted to submit this document five days.

A

F

This to approve something more, it's to approve.

A

Of uh to accept The, Five-Year Plan and you know, put it it's not asking for money, but if.

A

uh I mean that doesn't mean that they're.

A

Us, oh those commit not commit. The reason that that this local government corporation was created for is exactly what's in the most five year.

A

C

A

A presentation so anyways, um but we can condense it into a small thing and that's why I wanted to give it to everybody to so they could see it. It's pretty.

A

And it's already it's already paying off. You know with a symposium and this relationships that are happening with lcos and other orgs.

A

um But this is a formal.

A

Okay, anyways so moving on.

A

Of item nine you've talked to yeah.

D

So I spoke to Myra Hernandez, who were.

D

This and I, you know, asked her if she'd be interested, I think she's been to a couple meetings before.

A

Here she's also part of the food policy Council.

C

D

Be open to you know serving as the academic sector representative or if she knew anybody. You know.

D

Third person, when I see her.

A

Okay, are there any other people that are from from.

A

A

Yes, yes, they have a culinary Department there. So that's a good point. You want to call it.

C

A

Are there any other items that need to come up? Is there anything else before we adjourn? That was the last item, but is there anything else that we need to talk about? Well, you just talked about the time.

A

Months, I, don't know if it's just whatever, but we've had a little trouble getting. You know we've been making Quorum but I think maybe except for once, but.

A

Is there anybody.

E

A

Think, typically,.

E

It's harder yeah, it seems like we have this kind of right and so on for sure.

A

C

E

One more Point well just to reiterate on the agenda please for the next.

E

C

Many especially possible action.

C

A

Some fabric to adjourn all right.

A

Of course, thank you.