By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Del Rio City Council members July 25 discussed who will make a trip to meet with federal agencies in Washington, D.C., and when that trip should be scheduled.
The trip was previously addressed during the June 27 council meeting and was brought up again during the July 25 council meeting to further discuss who will represent the city, as well as possible dates for the trip.
The goal of the trip is to allow local elected leaders and administrators the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives of federal agencies to lobby for assistance on a variety of projects. Assistant City Manager Manuel Chavez said he and other city staffers planning the trip will discuss possible dates with representatives from Val Verde County and the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee.
Chavez told the council the dates originally considered for the trip were Oct. 17 through Oct. 20. Chavez said they realized that week falls during the city’s annual Fiesta de Amistad and decided to pick another set of dates.
City Manager John Sheedy said he spoke with the county judge about dates that would be most convenient for those planning to go on the advocacy trip. He said the days from Nov. 6 through Nov. 9 are the “best bet” because by then the city council will have completed its budget approval cycle for the year and the October events would be over.
Mayor Al Arreola asked about the process for members attending these meetings. Chavez reminded council members only 10 people can attend the meetings at the Pentagon.
Sheedy said the Pentagon strictly limits the number of people who may attend the meetings there. He added the city’s lobbyists will need to be one of the people in the Pentagon meetings. Mayor Pro-tem Steve Webb said he suggested sending no more than two members from the council in order to save money.
“I would not recommend sending more than two, with (Councilman) Jim DeReus being one of them, and either the mayor or the city manager or assistant city manager,” Webb said.
Sheedy added he recommends sending the mayor, city manager and at least one council member to the trip.
DeReus said the meetings got too big on the previous trips he attended and not everyone was able “to develop their points.” He suggested two council members and the city manager make the Washington trip.
Chavez said they are planning to have meetings with other local governing entities and organizations prior to the trip so a cohesive plan can be developed.
No action was taken by the council following the discussion.
