By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
City council approved the new contract between the city and the Boys and Girls Club of Del Rio,
a non-profit organization, to provide a recreational program for youth of the community this
summer.
During the council’s meeting Tuesday, city council members discussed a possible action on a
resolution to authorize the city manager to execute a contract with the Boys and Girls Club of
Del Rio, Inc. to provide services for a youth summer recreation program.
Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez made the motion to approve the resolution, and
Councilman Randy Quiñones gave the second.
As mentioned in a memo written and submitted by Lazaro Castro, the city’s parks director, the
Boys and Girls Club has provided a youth summer recreation program over the years for
children in Del Rio from ages five to 12. The purpose of the program is to offer “healthy, safe
summer activities for the children when school is not in session.”
The memo mentioned how the Boys and Girls Club will offer activities for children five days a
week, starting in June and ending in early August. The program has used the Joe Ramos Gym
and Moore Park Swimming Pool as locations for program activities.
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez asked if there are going to be any changes to this year’s
contract with the Boys and Girls Club compared to the one in 2024. Assistant City Manager
Manuel Chavez responded there will not be any changes to this year’s contract.
Gutierrez then asked if an issue mentioned in the informational memo, about a city-run senior
aerobics program holding classes at the Joe Ramos Center, has been resolved. Chavez said
the city is still looking to fund the other programs mentioned in the resolution.
City Attorney Ana Markowski Smith chimed in on the conversation and mentioned that a portion
of the resolution was written to clarify what times the aerobics program uses the Joe Ramos
Gym, which is Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Gutierrez thanked Smith for the explanation, and the council voted unanimously to approve the
resolution before moving on to the next agenda topic.
