By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All seven members of the Del Rio City Council were present for the Tuesday, Aug. 25, meeting.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Staff recommends increase in fees
Interim Finance Director Roxy Soto presented a slate of proposed increases in some city fees, including those charged by the city’s animal services division for ownership of dogs that have been deemed dangerous or aggressive.
Soto said city staff is also proposing an increase in fees for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the city’s international bridge, fees charged for some water and sewer connections and the solid waste rates previously discussed by the city council.
City council members asked several questions and made comments, with Mayor Al Arreola saying he believed the fees being proposed for dangerous and aggressive dogs were too low and should be increased.
Soto said the final decision on the rates would be made by the council during its meeting Sept. 8, and the new fees would become effective Oct. 1.
The new solid waste rates will be presented to the council Sept. 22 and become effective Oct. 5.
Finance department gives update on capital improvement plan
Interim Finance Director Roxy Soto gave city council members an update on the city’s proposed capital improvement plan (CIP).
Capital improvements are any upgrades or changes to city property, and staff present an updated plan on proposed improvements every year during the budget planning cycle.
Soto told the council staff is now recommending the cost of fencing at some city properties be spread over the next three fiscal years.
Soto said renovation of the restrooms at the amphitheater along the creek will be moved from the 2026-2027 fiscal year to the 2027-2028 fiscal year.
Other projects to be pushed to the 2027-2028 fiscal year will be $50,000 in improvements and upgrades at the San Felipe Golf Course and the parks and recreation facility roof repair.
She said the cost of the Del Rio Thoroughfare Plan will be redistributed over two fiscal years, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.
Councilwoman Elsa Reyes asked Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez to put some of the capital projects on the radar of Michael Garcia, the city’s grants writer, so he can begin researching possible grant funding for some of the projects, and Chavez said he would.
Council hears about revisions to proposed budget
Interim Finance Director Roxy Soto presented a handful of revisions to the city’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget.
Soto first noted the columns for FY23-24 Actual and FY24-25 Actual were transposed and said the correction has been made in the revised budget.
She also said the wastewater fund’s debt service was re-reviewed and $68,300 added to wastewater debt service.
Soto said $300,200 was also added to anticipated expenditures in the health claims fund, and $525,000 was added to estimated revenues in the water fund.
Finally, she said the city’s overall debt service costs were reduced by $1,748,900.
Soto told the council copies of the budget revisions are now available for public review on the city’s website.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
