By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Council members on Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 discussed updates on the “Del Rio Days” advocacy trips to Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
Every year, Del Rio city council members, along with other local
to Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Chavez made his comments on Tuesday during the
regular council meeting. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
elected and business leaders, take trips to Austin and Washington to meet with face-to-face state representatives and federal agencies. Assistant City Manager Manuel Chavez talked about the details of the trips during both meetings.
During the Dec. 10 meeting, Chavez mentioned the state legislature will be in session from Jan. 14, 2025, to June 2, 2025, and the final date for Texas bills to be filed will be March 14, 2025.
“On the state side, in years past, the city has engaged with state consultants . . . In the next city council meeting I’ll bring forth a resolution to start engagement with the constants. They have been very supportive, assisting the city and preparing us for these state days,” Chavez said.
Chavez then spoke about the federal trips and the help Del Rio had been receiving from Madison Government Associates (a federal consulting service hired by the city). He also gave thanks to Jack Hession, of Madison Government Associates, for his involvement in helping the council in the past.
Chavez also talked about the community involvement with the trips at the Dec. 10 meeting.
“As an update, I did want to make the council aware that we started meeting with our local community leaders so that we can start planning for these trips,” Chavez said.
Community leaders from local governmental entities, including the San Felipe Del Rio
Consolidated Independent School District, Val Verde Regional Hospital, Val Verde County, Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Laughlin Air Force Base met on Wednesday to discuss their top priorities for the trips.
Chavez brought forth a resolution during Tuesday’s meeting for the recommended days to travel to Austin and Washington. The recommended days for Washington will be during the week of March 3 through March 6, 2025, and the recommended days for Austin will be during the week of March 31 through April 3, 2025.
“If those days coincide with the city council's wishes, then we will start planning for those particular days, and we will start picking specific days for the weeks I have mentioned,” Chavez said.
“The next thing is to start to determine who from the council wants to attend so that we can start making plans for that as well,” Chavez mentioned.
Chavez finished his update and asked the council if they had any questions. Mayor Al Arreola said that dates “sound great.”
“I don’t see a problem with those dates. We just have to get everybody together and see who wants to represent (Del Rio) and who wants to go to Austin and Washington,” Arreola said.
Chavez said the local agencies will continue to meet with each other to discuss their top priorities. Arreola said he would want to have State Rep. Eddie Morales on the trip to Austin, and he suggested inviting Congressman Tony Gonzales on the trip to Washington.
“If they can’t come, they can send a staffer . . . Those are key elements to have them on board with the vision and needs of this community,” Arreola said.
Arreola asked if the council had any more questions. None were answered, and the council moved on to the next topic.
