By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio City Council met for a special meeting and budget workshop Tuesday. Six of the
seven council members were present. Councilman J.P. Sanchez was absent due to the
recent death of his father, according to Mayor Al Arreola.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Council approves trip for council member
• City council members voted 6-0 to authorize and approve travel expenses for
Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez to attend the “Legislative Wrap-up Workshop:
An Insider’s Perspective” hosted by the Texas Municipal League June 27 in Georgetown,
Texas. Total cost of the trip is estimated at $886.79.
Council approves advertising request for proposals for road materials
• City council members voted 6-0 to approve a resolution authorizing and directing City
Manager Shawna Burkhart to advertise and give notice of a request for proposals for
various road materials for the city’s public works projects. City Purchasing Agent Luis
Menchaca said the request for proposals will be advertised at the county courthouse and
on the city web site, although he said his department will also reach out to as many
vendors as possible across the state.
Council discusses proposed fees for city services
• City council members took no action following a more than two-hour presentation on
the city’s proposed fee schedule to be included in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget. City
budget analyst Flavio Aguilar made the presentation, during which council members
asked numerous questions about the various fees being proposed, from re-platting to
barricade rental to pet adoption. Staff will present the fees again at a later meeting. Look
for our separate story on the proposed fees and the council’s questions later this week.
Council approves appropriation of bridge tolls for airport project
• City council members voted 5-1, with Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus opposed, to approve
the appropriation of 25 cents from the international bridge crossing toll to fund a taxiway
realignment and helipad project at Del Rio International Airport. The 25-cent toll
increase, enacted in 2018, is currently being used to pay off the $2.4 million the city
pledged in revenue guarantees during the last round of commercial air service. City
finance staff told the council the revenue guarantee will be paid off in February or March
of next year and recommended reallocating the revenue from the 25-cent toll hike to the
airport project. Look for our separate story on this issue later this week.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
