By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All seven members of the Del Rio City Council were present for Tuesday’s meeting.
February proclaimed Black History Awareness Month
Mayor Al Arreola issued a proclamation naming February 2026 as Black History Awareness Month. The proclamation notes February is recognized nationwide as Black History Month and is a time “to honor and celebrate the achievements, contributions and rich cultural heritage of African-Americans throughout our nation’s history.”
Arreola also noted Del Rio’s African-American churches played a central role in promoting unity and civil rights awareness during the Civil Rights era, echoing the message of faith and nonviolence preached by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The proclamation was presented to leaders of Del Rio’s Black community who attended the meeting.
Mayor thanks community for response to icy weather
Arreola thanked individuals and organizations for working together during the recent ice event and several days of below-freezing temperatures.
He noted the city opened a warming center in south Del Rio and thanked city administrators for making the facility available, residents for staying off icy roads, City Emergency Management Coordinator Amanda Aldaco, County Emergency Management Coordinator Rowland Garza, County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr., the Del Rio Fire Department, AEP Texas for addressing outages, and the Texas Department of Transportation for sanding overpasses and major roadways.
Arreola also thanked County Veterans Service Officer Enrique Trevino for providing transportation to the warming center, city and county employees for maintaining essential services, and Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus and Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. for visiting the facility and speaking with residents.
He added that he attended the Ram Booster kickoff for the high school baseball team and the MLK Day march from Star Park to the Val Verde County Courthouse.
Councilwoman raises concerns about city communications
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez criticized the city’s communications during the weekend weather event, saying residents were not adequately informed about issues that arose during the sleet storm and freezing temperatures.
When Gutierrez referenced an email from City Attorney Ana Markowski Smith, Mayor Arreola interrupted and cautioned her about discussing its contents. Smith stated the email was an attorney-client confidential memo and not subject to the Texas Open Records Act.
Gutierrez said she had “failed” residents in certain ways and cited state guidelines requiring specific communications during emergency declarations. She said council members should receive periodic updates during emergencies, adding that this did not occur.
“Our citizens did not receive the communications versus the regular social media, and that is very concerning,” Gutierrez said, noting that closures of two city bridges by the Del Rio Police Department were not widely communicated. She said she learned of the closures through a post by The 830 Times.
City manager details cold weather response
City Manager Shawna Burkhart gave an overview of the city’s cold weather response from Jan. 24 through Jan. 28.
She said cold weather response measures were implemented by the city’s emergency management coordinator, with coordination involving Val Verde County, AEP Texas, the Texas Department of Emergency Management, the Department of State Health Services and Val Verde Regional Medical Center.
Burkhart said five people stayed at the city’s warming center Saturday night into Sunday, four stayed Sunday night into Monday, and three stayed Monday night into Tuesday. She said a more comprehensive report will be presented at the next council meeting in two weeks.
Burkhart also provided updates on several public works projects.
Main Street program reports on 2025 activities
Del Rio Main Street Manager Jorge Garza reported on activities held in the city’s historic downtown area in 2025.
Events organized by the Main Street Program included a BMX freestyle show, three market events, a live art show and Boot Scootin’ Fiesta Amistad. Garza also listed more than a dozen events in which the program participated. He was joined by Mario Sanchez, president of the Del Rio Main Street Board.
No action taken on rules of order
Council members took no action on proposed rules of order and procedure for city council meetings.
Several members said the issue should be addressed after the May city elections, when voters will elect a mayor and three council members. Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. said he favored leaving the matter to the next council.
“I don’t see any need for any of this,” Lopez said.
Council joins coalition to restore air service
Council members voted 7-0 to approve the city’s participation in the RESTORE Coalition, a group of small U.S. cities seeking changes to federal airport funding programs.
Burkhart said the coalition will lobby Congress over the next two years to improve funding options for small regional airports. The cost to the city is approximately $15,000 annually, which she said could be shared with the city’s economic development corporation.
EDC marketing agreement approved
The council unanimously approved a resolution ratifying a professional services agreement between the Del Rio Economic Development Corporation and The Retail Coach.
City Economic Development Director Orestes Hubbard said the EDC board approved the agreement at its meeting last week.
Bids authorized for Highland Park project
Council members voted 7-0 to authorize Burkhart to advertise and issue a request for bids for the Highland Park Subdivision Project.
Public Works Director Greg Velasquez said the project includes sidewalk, driveway, curb and gutter replacement, pavement milling and overlay, water and sewer adjustments, and drainage improvements in the subdivision near Val Verde Regional Medical Center.
Tourism agreements approved
The council approved an ordinance authorizing Burkhart to execute an agreement with the Del Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau for the use of hotel occupancy tax funds to promote tourism and the hotel and convention industry.
Assistant City Manager Manuel Chavez said the council approved allocating 35 percent of HOT funds collected in fiscal year 2025-26, a projected $280,000.
Council members also approved a similar agreement with the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, authorizing the use of 10 percent of HOT funds, a projected $80,000.
Budget amendment approved
The council unanimously approved an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025-26 city budget.
Assistant Finance Director Roxy Soto reviewed the budget transfers, which were detailed in a memo included in the agenda packet
