By Lou Zylka
The 830 Times
A majority of the city council members have approved city funding for upcoming regional Little League baseball and softball tournaments to be held in Del Rio, over the objection of at least one council member.
The Del Rio City Council during its June 13 meeting approved an ordinance to help fund the Little League tournaments on a 5-2 vote.
Councilman J.P. Sanchez made the motion to approve the ordinance, which authorizes City Manager John Sheedy to provide hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds of no more than $2,000 to the Del Rio Little League to help pay for tournament expenses. Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez gave the second.
According to information provided to the council, Del Rio Little League officials requested the funding to help pay for expenses associated with hosting the District 35 Texas West Section tournaments for baseball and softball divisions. The tournaments will run from June 16 through June 25, 2023.
After Mayor Al Arreola asked if there were questions about the ordinance, councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon said she had issues with the process by which the application had come to the council.
“Nothing against the league, nothing against the children, nothing against quality of life. None of that,” Calderon said.
Calderon said she would not vote to approve the ordinance because she “could not accept” the application the way it had been presented to the city, adding information and documentation requested on the application was not included and pointing out that she has in the past raised similar objections to other groups’ incomplete applications.
Mayor Al Arreola added his perspective after Calderon finished. Arreola said he believed sometimes organizations applying for the HOT funds were not sure of the overall process.
“In the future we just have to get better at filling out those applications and really address it to those who apply for it. We’re going to get better. We will get on the next level and fill out those applications the way they are supposed to (be filled out),” Arreola said.
After speaking, the mayor called for the vote, and he and four other members of the council voted to approve the ordinance. Falcon Calderon and Mayor Pro-tem Steve Webb voted against approving the ordinance.
After the meeting, Calderon explained why she had voted against the ordinance. Calderon said she made her decision against the ordinance because of the application process and how an application for HOT funds should be reviewed.
“We as a council create laws and policies, and we have to make sure they are enforced,” Calderon said.
