By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members have approved an application for a Customs and Border Protection trade program that allows private businesses to pay for additional inspection services.
The council during its Nov. 19 meeting approved a resolution “authorizing and directing the city manager to submit a reimbursable services program application and required documentation to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency.”
After City Secretary Mari Acosta read the heading of the agenda item, Mayor Al Arreola asked if there was a motion to approve the resolution.
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez made the motion to approve, with Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. giving the second.
“Any questions or concerns? If not, all in favor,” Arreola said.
All six of the council members present at the meeting voted to approve the resolution.
Michael Garcia, assistant to the city manager and city grant writer, wrote a memo explaining the program, which was included in the council’s informational packet.
Garcia wrote, “The Reimbursable Services Program is part of CBP’s Alternative Funding Programs, which provide an alternative source of funding for overtime services beyond CBP’s appropriated budget and allows our partners to target where they desire CBP to provide additional services.”
Garcia told council members the attached agreement and memorandum of understanding serves as the city’s application for the Reimbursable Services Program.
“Once the application is approved by (CBP), manufacturing companies, transportation companies, customs brokers and other trade-related companies will be able to request and pay for additional inspection services during weekends, peak hours and holidays by adding additional manpower and hours of operation.
“The program will allow the Del Rio Port of Entry to be more competitive with other ports of entry along the Texas-Mexico border by attracting more commercial traffic through the Del Rio International Bridge Port of Entry, Del Rio Amistad Dam Port of Entry and Del Rio International Airport and enhancing economic development growth,” Garcia wrote.
Garcia reminded the council in the memo “signing a Reimbursable Services Agreement does not obligate CBP Ports of Entry to provide services beyond its staffing resource capacity, and CBP port directors maintain control over their staff.”
He said signing the agreement also does not obligate stakeholders to request certain levels of reimbursable services.
Garcia’s memo also notes that CBP opens the application submission year-round with a triannual evaluation period and posts detailed instructions on its website, and CBP reviews the applications “to select partnerships that are mutually beneficial to the requesting parties, the affected communities and CBP.”
“As of 2024, the Reimbursable Services Program has 496 stakeholders, serves at 317 ports of entry, conducted 559,000 assignments, 20.7 million travelers and 2.4 million vehicles,” Garcia wrote.
Garcia also included a presentation about the Reimbursable Services Program from CBP in his information to the council.
The presentation notes the Reimbursable Services Program is one of CBP’s “Alternative Funding Programs,” which allow the agency to engage in public/private partnerships with private sectors companies and governmental entities and also include CBP’s “User Fee Facilities” and “Donations Acceptance Program.”
A previous initiative included in CBP’s “Alternative Funding Programs” is the city’s 2021 donation of infrastructure improvements at the Del Rio Port of Entry. The donation enabled the addition of an “expedited cargo lane. . . construction of a two-lane roadway and improvements like drainage, signage, lighting and fencing.”
CBP noted the project was completed and the new lanes opened in January. The project is valued at $1.76 million.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
