By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
The city council approved canceling negotiations for the creation of a new community recreation center on 500 Hernandez St. at a regular council meeting on June 25, 2024.
A resolution was approved to authorize the interim city manager to close out negotiations with Jimenez Engineering DBA International Consulting Engineers (ICE) for the architectural services for a new community recreation center on the south side of Del Rio.
Councilman J.P. Sanchez made the motion to approve the resolution, and councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. gave the second.
A resolution was first approved during the June 13, 2023, regular council meeting to purchase the property from the Archdiocese of San Antonio. During the 2023 meeting, Mayor Al Arreola said he wanted the property to be used for community purposes.
During the regular council meeting on January 23, 2024, a resolution was approved to allow negotiations for a contract with ICE for the design of a new community recreation center.
During the June 25, 2024, regular council meeting, purchasing agent Luis Menchaca said they are presenting the resolution to close out negotiations without approving a contract for the recreation center.
Sanchez asked what was the reason for wanting to cancel the negotiations, and Menchaca responded saying they didn’t have “funding” for the project.
“We’re being advised to not obtain any more additional debt, so we would have to borrow to be able to do this project,” Menchaca said.
Menchaca said (the Del Rio city staff) wants to look for future potential grants while also obtaining the funds for the project.
Sanchez said Menchaca’s answer was a good reason for moving forward without a contract. Arreola asked if there was more bidding done for the project, and Menchaca responded saying there have not been any bids on the project.
