By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Six members of the city council were present. Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. was absent.
Council hears presentation on water restrictions
• City Public Works Director Greg Velazquez gave council members a presentation on
the four stages of water restrictions included in the city’s drought contingency plan. He
reminded the council and citizens the city is currently in Stage 2 water restrictions and
went over actions allowed and not allowed under that stage. Velazquez also reviewed
restrictions that would take effect if the city moved to Stage 3, an action city officials say
is likely if the current drought conditions continue. Velazquez told the council the San
Felipe Springs is currently flowing at 20 million gallons per day. He said Stage 3
restrictions would be triggered if spring flow falls to 15 million gallons a day. The
council took no action following the presentation.
Council hears water/wastewater presentations from consultants
• City consultants International Consulting Engineers (ICE) presented the council with
the water master plan, the City of Del Rio Wastewater Planning Actions document, the
city’s master watershed study and the City of Del Rio Design Manual for Storm Drainage
Facilities. The council initially appeared poised to approve all four documents, but Mayor
Pro-tem Jim DeReus said he had not had a chance to read the hundreds of pages in them
and asked his council colleagues to delay approval of the documents for at least one
meeting. The council then voted 6-0 to postpone approval.
Council hears presentation on sale and release of public rights-of-way
• City Planner Eivon Garcia and Planning and Zoning Director Janice Pokrant spoke to
council members about establishing costs associated with the sale and release of public
rights-of-way. The council took no action following the presentation.
Council confirms appointment to civil service commission
• City council voted 6-0 to reappoint and confirm David Clay Cowan as a member of the
Del Rio Police Officers and Firefighters Civil Service Commission. Cowan, an attorney
and mediator, was appointed to the commission in June 2015 and reappointed in 2018
and 2022. City Manager Shawna Burkhart recommended Cowan be reappointed to the
commission for a fifth three-year term to end in June 2028.
Council appoints member to board of adjustment
• City council voted 6-0 to appoint Alejandro Pineda, a business analyst and licensed
plumber, to the City of Del Rio Board of Adjustment. Pineda was appointed to the board
to fill an unexpired vacancy on the board. The current term for the position to which
Pineda was appointed ends Aug. 13, 2026.
Council approves name change for a portion of park near creek
• City council voted 6-0 to change the name of a portion of the current Severiano Perez Parkway to “Del Rio Skate Garden.” The council during its April 22 meeting accepted and approved an application to rename a portion of the parkeway, submitted by Shane Yee, chief design officer of Skate Ecosystems Inc., the company hired by the city to
design the skate garden. The skate garden is located near the San Felipe Creek in the area of the Dr. Alfredo Gutierrez Amphitheater and the Joe Ramos Center.
Council requests financial participation from Texas Water Development Board
• City council voted 6-0 to approve two separate resolutions requesting financial participation from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for two critical water infrastructure projects. The first resolution seeks approval for submission of an application for low-interest financing to support the development of a new groundwater well, and the second seeks low-interest financing for additional filtration membranes for the city’s water treatment plant.
Council approves funding for visitor tracking system
• City council voted 5-1 to approve an ordinance for the use of hotel occupancy tax (HOT) monies in the amount of $4,856.25 to the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce as the city’s portion of an annual subscription for the Placer.ai program, which tracks visitor location data for events held in the city. The cost of the program will be shared by the Del Rio Chamber, the city, the county and the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus voted against the ordinance.
Council approves ordinance for home delivery of meals
• City council voted 6-0 to approve an ordinance for re-enrollment in a contract between
the city and the Texas Health & Human Services Commission for a program that provides funds to the city to allow it to prepare and delivery meals to the homes of elderly residents. The funds, in the amount of $75,582, are used by the City of Del Rio Nutrition and Social Services for the Elderly program, currently operated from the Joe
Ramos Center.
Council calls for public input on amendments related to noise levels
• City council members voted 6-0 to postpone action on amendments to three city ordinances. The first amendment deals with defining “what constitutes unreasonable noise” and establishing guidelines. The second and third amendments eliminate redundancies in existing ordinances if the first amendment is approved. Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez said she would like to hear input from citizens regarding the proposed noise regulation changes, and City Manager Shawna Burkhart suggested a public meeting, though none has been set.
Council approves change order for change order in sewer line project
• City council members voted 6-0 to authorize City Manager Shawna Burkhart to approve
Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $268,910 from TetraTech for the Cienegas Realignment Evaluation and Design for the Northside Sanitary Sewer Outfall Trunkline project.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
