By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A majority of city council members approved the creation of a volunteer committee to
make recommendations to the city about implementing its “Envision Del Rio”
comprehensive plan.
The council approved formation of the new committee on a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman
Carmen Gutierrez in lone opposition. Gutierrez said she was opposed because she felt
city staff members need to concentrate their time and energy on the city’s pressing water
and streets and drainage issues.
The council took the vote during its regular meeting June 10, following a presentation by
City Planning and Zoning Director Janice Pokrant.
Pokrant, in her presentation and in a memo included in the council’s informational
packet, said the focus of the new committee will be “to assist in reviewing, prioritizing
and implementing recommendations from the city’s adopted comprehensive plan.”
Pokrant wrote, “The Envision Del Rio Comprehensive Plan was adopted on June 13,
2023. It outlines a vision and action plan through short-term, medium-term and long-term
strategies across key focus areas, including land use, housing, transportation,
infrastructure and economic development.
“Since its adoption, city staff has begun implementing many of the plan’s initial steps. A
community-driven implementation committee will enhance this work by providing
guidance, community input and oversight and recommending ordinance and policy
revisions to the city council,” Pokrant wrote.
Pokrant said she recommended a committee consisting of between seven and 14
community members appointed by the city council.
She also suggested the council nominate citizen volunteers who previously served on the
city charter review committee or on the Envision Del Rio steering committee.
Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. wanted to know what the committee’s mandate would be and
how it would use the Envision Del Rio document to make recommendations to the
council. He said the committee would also need to be mindful of the city’s financial
situation.
Pokrant replied that the last chapter in the document addresses implementation of its
recommendations and said the committee would start there.
“With the plan, they did submit a funding sheet, where we could look (at the cost) of each
one of the items recommended, and they proposed a number of grants that correspond to
that. That is not in the book, but we do have a copy of that that we can share with you,”
Pokrant said.
In response to another question by Lopez, Pokrant said the committee would also be
tasked with making recommendations to the council on changes to city ordinances and
policies, based on the priorities set by the comprehensive plan.
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez said she was happy that Pokrant, who recently rejoined
the city staff, is working to “bring back” projects that had been set aside.
“But I have to be honest with you. I would not be able to vote for this, not at this time,
and the reason is, our main focus has shifted since this (document was approved) in 2023.
Right now, the main focus and my focus, and I know our city manager’s focus is, water,
water, water. . . as well as streets and drainage,” Gutierrez said.
The councilwoman said what clinched her decision was a portion of Pokrant’s memo to
the council that addressed “pros and cons” of establishing the committee.
“On your ‘cons,’ you (listed) staff time and resources ‘will be required to coordinate
meetings, compile information and facilitate the committee’s work and varying interests
may require active facilitation to maintain (the committee’s) focus and consensus.’ So
that’s a big one, there, and then on your discussion (in the memo), you state, ‘advise on
zoning and ordinance updates,’ which we already have you doing that as well as our
planning and zoning committee.
“I think that it might be a little premature at this time, while we’re trying to focus on our
water woes and trying to get all that squared away,” Gutierrez said.
She added the city “already has some difficulty” identifying and recruiting individuals
who want to volunteer and serve on city committees.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction, but I can’t vote for this at this time,”
Gutierrez said.
June 10 meeting, asking them to consider creating a citizen committee to review the
city’s Envision Del Rio Comprehensive Plan and to make recommendations regarding its
implementation. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Pokrant replied, “I completely understand your position on that. One of the things I
would like to say is we all understand the focus on water and wastewater and
infrastructure right now that the city has. This is part of that, and there is a section (in the
comprehensive plan) that talks about infrastructure and city facilities and so that is kind
of a complement on that.
“I know I am here for a specific job, and what I want to do is make sure I don’t do my job
in a vacuum, and not take into account what I’m doing and how it affects the
development community, how it affects the residential community, how it affects our city
funding sources, so that’s where this committee will be able to help us to prioritize the
implementation sections of this, and as we work as doing our subdivision ordinance, our
zoning ordinance, committees like this help,” she added.
Lopez asked Pokrant when she wanted to start the committee, and she replied she would
like to start in July or August.
Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus commented that he understood Gutierrez’s reservations
about staff time and resources and what the city’s current priorities are, but noted that
staff also needs “to be able to multi-task.”
DeReus said, “As you (Pokrant) said, because of legislative changes, we’re going to have
to change stuff anyway and as important as the water stuff is, I’m pretty sure every city
employee doesn’t spend 40 hours a week on water, and so I would recommend it, and I’ll
make the motion to approve this because we need to move forward, we need to multi-
task, and if we delay, we’re just kicking the can down the road.”
A short time later, DeReus also added to his motion, saying he recommended 11 persons
on the new committee. Lopez gave the second.
After Lopez’s second, Gutierrez said she would like to hear from City Manager Shawna
Burkhart.
Burkhart told the council, “This is something that is very much needed. This is something
that we can delay, but it is not a long delay. . . These ordinances are out-of-date, and they
need updating, so this is a pending issue.”
After Burkhart spoke and Gutierrez and Pokrant made additional comments, City
Attorney Ana Markowski Smith commented, “We’ve found that the more people that
have input, the better the ordinances are.”
DeReus then called for the vote, and four of the five council members present voted in
favor of the motion. He asked council members to bring back “one or two names” of
persons to recommend for the committee at the council’s next regular meeting.
Gutierrez voted against the motion, as she had indicated she would. Mayor Al Arreola
and Councilman J.P. Sanchez were not present at the meeting.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
