By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All seven members of the city council were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Council holds public hearing, approves re-zoning
• Council members on a 6-0-1 vote approved an ordinance approving the re-zoning of
1001 Tesoro Park from single-family to residential multiple-family, requested by Pablo
Jesus Sanchez (Councilman J.P. Sanchez), representing Eagle Pass Hill Land Group,
LLC. Council took the vote following a public hearing at which no comments were made,
either for or against the request, and Sanchez abstained from the vote.
Council presents key to the city to Guatemala Consul
• Mayor Al Arreola presented a key to the city of Del Rio and a certificate of appreciation
to Guatemala Consul Randy Estuardo Castillo Tocay. Tocay has served as the head of the
Guatemalan Consulate in Del Rio since July 2020 and will be leaving the city for his new
posting in North Carolina.
Council hears report on annual comprehensive financial report for FY2023-2024
• City council members heard a presentation on the city’s annual comprehensive financial
report for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024. The presentation was made the city’s
independent auditors, ABIP, certified public accountants, and appeared to indicate the
city is in a strong financial position.
Council hears presentation on various procurement methods used by the city
• City council members heard a comprehensive presentation from City Purchasing Agent
Luis Menchaca on the methods the city uses to procure goods and services. Menchaca
reviewed the purchasing process, sealed procurement processes, cooperative contracts
and order contracting and exemptions for emergency procurements.
Council authorizes Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus to attend Ports-to-Plains Alliance meeting
• Council members unanimously approved a motion for Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus to
attend the Texas Department of Transportation and Ports-to-Plains Alliance 1-27 Signage
Ceremony to be held April 14 in Lubbock, Texas. Mayor Al Arreola and Councilman
Jesus Lopez Jr. were to attend the event, but the mayor withdrew his request to attend, as
did Lopez. DeReus said he would check his work schedule to make sure he could attend
the meeting. Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez said she will attend as well, but
noted she will be representing the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at the event.
Council establishes budget and finance committees and assigns members
• Council members unanimously approved the establishment of a budget committee and a
finance committee, at the request of Interim Finance Director Linda Coones. The council
also followed Coones’ suggestion that one council member be appointed to the budget
committee and one member be appointed to the finance committee, with the remainder of
the council members rotating service on each committee. Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus
was appointed to serve on the budget committee, and Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez
was appointed to serve on the finance committee.
Council postpones action on adopting code of ethics
• Council members unanimously agreed to postpone for six more weeks the adoption of a
code of ethics to govern the actions of the city’s public officials. The council has wrestled
with the adoption of a code of ethics for some months, and during Tuesday’s meeting,
agreed to postpone action on the code for an additional six weeks following an extensive
discussion and many questions and comments from council members.
Council approves a master services agreement for planning and zoning projects and programs
• Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing City Manager
Shawna Burkhart to award a master services agreement to Aoka Engineering LLC for
professional consulting services for various planning and zoning department projects and
programs. Aoka Engineering, based in Ft. Worth, Texas, was the only firm that submitted
a sealed statement of qualifications for the services requested by the city.
Council approves contract award for audit services
• Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing City Manager
Shawna Burkhart to award a contract in the amount of $759,038 to independent certified
public accountant firm ABIP-SA PC for the purpose of conducting the audit of the city’s
financial statements. The term of the contract is for five years.
Council approves purchase of backhoe loader with hydraulic hammer
• Council members unanimously approved a resolution directing City Manager Shawna
Burkhart to approve the purchase of a John Deere 410 P-Tier backhoe loader with
hydraulic hammer from Yellowhouse Machinery Co. for the city’s water distribution
division in the amount of $178,925.
Council approves resolutions for purchases, grant application, MOU for police department
• Council members unanimously approved four resolutions dealing with items for the Del
Rio Police Department, including resolutions authorizing City Manager Shawna Burkhart
to advertise for bids for license plate readers and for the purchase of vehicles. The council
also approved resolutions authorizing the city manager to submit an application for a
FY2026 grant for rifle-resistant body armor and approving a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) between the city and the Middle Rio Grande Development Council
for the distribution and use of handheld patrol radios.
Council approves funding for façade grant request
• Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing funding from the
Main Street Façade Assistance Grant Program up to the amount of $10,000 submitted by
C&L Home Care LLC for a façade improvement project located at 419 and 421 S. Main
St.
Council authorizes Texas Main Street Program contract
• Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing City Manager
Shawna Burkhart to execute a Texas Main Street Locally Designated Program 2025
contract with the Texas Historical Commission.
Council approves setting bridge crossing rates for electric bicycles and mopeds
• Council members unanimously approved an ordinance amending the city’s code of
ordinances dealing with the Del Rio International Bridge to add electric bicycles and
mopeds and to set crossing rates for those vehicles. Bicycles, including electric bicycles,
will be charged a toll of 75 cents per crossing, and mopeds will be charged $4 per
crossing. Tolls for passenger cars, light trucks and motorcycles will remain the same at
$2 per axle.
Council accepts grant to create revolving loan fund for small businesses
• Council members unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing City Manager
Shawna Burkhart to accept a FY24 Rural Business Development Grant award in the
amount of $167,783 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a revolving loan
fund program for local small businesses. Council members learned that businesses can
apply for the low-interest loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will
approve or deny the requests.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
