Jorge Cardenas

The agenda for the meeting outlines several key discussion and action items. These include the call to order and roll call, public comment period for library system business, and a detailed Library Report covering Adult Services, Youth Services, Teen Services, Makerspace Services, Outreach, and Utilization Statistics. The meeting is structured to set goals, objectives, and suggest programming and services for the Brownsville Public Library System.

The meeting commenced with the administration of the oath of office to present members, followed by a motion to open public comment. A property owner presented concerns regarding an abandoned structure at 333 East Jefferson Street, which included a shed that burned down, noting ongoing issues with trespassers and vandalism, and requested demolition as restoration funds are unavailable. The commission then reviewed draft 2026 tax exemptions, noting a total of $133,000 in forgone taxes, and discussed that the current figure represents 68% of total taxes, nearing the ordinance limit. Key actions included the approval of meeting minutes from December 12th, approval of the 2026 schedule of meetings for the commission and the architectural review committee, and appointments to the three-person architectural review committee (Calvin, Larry, and Martin). The main public hearing item concerned the Capitol Theater sign; following an August decision to remove the sign for investigation due to its interference with roof replacement work, the architect reported that the sign is beyond repair due to internal structural corrosion. The commission is now proceeding with the creation of a replica sign, while the existing components will be turned over to the city for climate-controlled safekeeping.

The meeting included discussions and actions regarding the appointment of officers, resulting in the selection of a chair and vice chair. A significant portion of the meeting addressed the staggering of term limits for newly appointed board members using a raffle system to assign two members to two-year terms and three members to three-year terms to ensure staggered reappointment cycles. The Adult Services report detailed activities from the previous month, including a Christmas Carol lip sync battle and diamond painting of Christmas greeting cards. It also covered the initiation of the seed library and plant exchange program, noting statistics on items taken and addressing concerns about seed maintenance and plant safety, including collaboration with the Brownsville Coalition and BTX Health regarding gardening tool kit checkouts. The Children's Services report reviewed December attendance figures for Pictures with Santa and the sensory-friendly night, noting slightly lower attendance than the previous year. The presentation outlined the focus on promoting literacy through events like Story Time, Bouncing Babies, Kids Nights (crafts, STEM projects), scavenger hunts, and the summer reading program. Upcoming January events include Stories and Stacks, an after-hours tween night (featuring crafts, mini golf, gaming, and food like pizza and a nacho bar), DIY picture frames, and a Lego lab. The Teen Services report noted the hiring of a new teen services librarian at the Southmost branch and covered two December teen events held prior to the main children's event.

The Allin initiative, established by the Brownsville Partnership for Postsecondary Success, is a community-wide education plan focused on improving the future careers and lives of Brownsville's youth. Key strategies include fostering partnerships with local leaders, educators, organizations, and businesses; linking business incentives to internships and tuition assistance; and developing a comprehensive student success framework from pre-kindergarten to career placement. The plan also emphasizes collaboration between educational institutions for curriculum alignment, family support, and providing students with clear pathways to gainful employment through guidance on tuition, financial aid, and occupational opportunities. The overarching goal is to cultivate a skilled and educated workforce to support Brownsville's growth and transformation.

The agenda for this teleconference open meeting included a work session providing COVID-19 updates from the Public Health Department. The consent agenda covered the approval of previous minutes, endorsing the use of public funds for 2020 Census participation incentives, and the second and final reading of several ordinances related to utilities, building codes, and zoning amendments. Items for individual consideration involved approving a Third Amended Declaration of Local State Disaster for Public Health Emergency, awarding contracts for pavement/sidewalk improvements and engineering services, acknowledging the Fiscal Year 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, acknowledging the GBIC report on COVID-19 business assistance, authorizing a CARES Act grant application for transit assistance, and appointing members to the LGBTQ Task Force. An executive session was held to consult with the attorney regarding the City's relationship with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board.