How did Laredo's traveling political entourage get as big as it is??

From 2006,  here is the public notice of the city of laredo's legislative trip to our nation's capitol in Washington, DC.   It number a total of 5 (five)  people.  How did it grow so ridiculously high and so expensive?  Yet, despite what the mayor claims, not much has come as a true direct result of their lavish trips.

From the 2006 City of Laredo Agenda :

2006 Annual Washington trip

Written notice is hereby given that the City of Laredo Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores and City Council Member John C. Galo, Council Member Hector Garcia, Council Member Gene Belmares, and Council Member Johnny Rendon will travel to Washington, D.C., on March 12, 2006, and return on March 16, 2006.

Dates of meetings: March 13, 2006 – March 15, 2006

Time of meetings: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at such times that the schedules of the various officials allow.

Place: Washington, D.C.

This notice was posted on Friday, March 10, 2006, by 12:00 p.m. at the municipal government offices located at 1110 Houston Street, Laredo, Texas, at a place convenient and readily accessible to the public at all times.