By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All seven members of the Del Rio City Council were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Council hears from citizens during public hearing on solid waste rates
City council members heard from four citizens during a public hearing on solid waste rates. Bea Vallejo held up a bag of her household trash she’d brought to the meeting and told the council that without wasting any water, her city water bill is $60. She said there are elderly residents “who cannot afford the fees” and called on the council to give elderly residents a discount on rates. Patricio Garza, a leader of The Border Organization, urged the city council “to hold off on the increase” and said he believes the city should have spent more time studying the city’s solid waste needs. Nicolas Prado addressed the council in Spanish, speaking about a proposed replat that was considered later in the meeting. Rick Martinez said he believed the reason the council was raising rates now is because he and other citizens spoke out against rate increases proposed to previous councils.
Council holds series of public hearings on proposed replats
City council conducted a series of four public hearings on proposed replats. The first, a requested replat for 2 Buena Vista Circle, was submitted because the owner of the property wants to plat the property into three lots. The second, a requested replat for 201 Santa Maria Drive, was submitted because the owner of the property wants to plat the property into three lots and is asking for a variance on one of the lots that does not meet the minimum frontage lot requirements. The third, a requested replat for 115 Gregory Drive, was submitted because the owner of the property wants to create two lots and is also requesting a variance on lot size. The fourth, a requested replat for 101 West Drive, was submitted because the owner of the property wants to create three lots from one. City Planner Eivon Palomares told the council the city’s planning and zoning commission has reviewed and recommended approval of all four replat requests. Only one person, Nicolas Prado, who lives near one of the lots in question, commented, and Mayor Al Arreola pledged city officials would meet with him to discuss his concerns.
Council approves two replat requests
City council members voted 7-0 to approve two ordinances approving requested replats for properties at 115 Gregory Drive and 101 West Drive. Just before voting on the two ordinances, city council conducted public hearings on the two requests.
Citizens speak to council about funding request, police salaries
Four citizens spoke to the council during the “Citizen Comments” portion of the agenda. Former City Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez spoke to the council about the benefits and history of the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC), as the council was to consider a funding request from the IGNC. Amanda Martinez, a leader with The Border Organization, urged city council members to give Del Rio police officers and firefighters the salary increases they are requesting in ongoing labor meetings with the city. Former Mayor Dora Alcalá, an IGNC member, asked the council to “help the IGNC all you can,” referencing the group’s request for funding later in the meeting. Rick Martinez also asked the council to support the IGNC’s funding request, saying, “I know all of you can get it done.”
Councilwoman thanks well-wishers during recent hospitalization
During the “Mayor/Council Public Announcements,” Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez thanked everyone who “reached out to me with well wishes, concerns, thoughts, prayers, calls, flowers, food – especially the food, thank you – during the time I was hospitalized in Del Rio and San Antonio recently.” Gutierrez said she missed a city council meeting and some city council events and assured everyone she is “much better.”
Mayor proclaims ‘Miss Del Rio Day’
Mayor Al Arreola read a proclamation designating Sept. 23, 2026, as “Miss Del Rio Day.” The proclamation discussed some of the pageant’s history, noting it has been held since 1932, when Mary Ann Cauthorn (Graham) was crowned the first Miss Del Rio. The mayor said the pageant has been “a long-standing part of Del Rio’s cultural heritage.” Arreola noted in 1974, the International Good Neighbor Council assumed stewardship of the pageant, and it has been associated with that organization ever since. The proclamation also recognized long-time pageant director Peggy Acosta. After reading the proclamation, Arreola presented it to the current Miss Del Rio Jazel Sanchez, to current pageant director Esme Esparza and Councilwoman Elsa Reyes, who served as pageant director for 26 years.
Interim city manager gives updates on projects, events
Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez gave city council members updates on some ongoing projects. Chavez reminded everyone the city council recently approved increases in toll rates for pedestrians and bicyclists at the city’s international bridge from 75 cents to $1. Chavez said there will be a city-wide cleanup 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Joe Ramos Center parking lot, 1105 W. De La Rosa St. Chavez recognized the Del Rio Fire Department for working with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of State Health Services for National Child Passenger Safety Week with an event at one of the fire stations. Chavez reminded the council of the city’s ongoing bid academy for persons who want to learn to do business with the federal government. Finally, Chavez announced the resignation of Orestes Hubbard from his position as the city’s economic development director, effective Sept. 30, lauding Hubbard for the work he did with the city.
City hears update on northside sewer expansion project
Sulieman Nader, a civil engineer with TetraTech, gave city council members an update on the northside sanitary sewer project Phase I, noting the project was set to be awarded to a contractor later in the meeting. Nader said the overall project will include 1,940 linear feet of 33-inch wastewater pipeline, 4,660 feet of 30-inch wastewater pipeline, 31 manholes and 39 service laterals. Naser said construction on Phase I is expected to begin in November and be completed in December 2028. Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez said the expansion project has been on the city’s radar for nearly 20 years, and its completion will allow continued expansion on the city’s north side.
Council approves funding for Fiesta De Amistad, Charro Extremo event
Following nearly an hour of discussion and several votes, city council members voted 4-2-1 to authorize up to $8,000 in hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds for the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC) Del Rio Chapter’s annual Fiesta de Amistad celebration. At the outset of the discussion, Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez said she would abstain from voting since she is a volunteer with the IGNC. Several other city council members balked at the $10,000 being requested by the IGNC, with Councilman Leno Hernandez questioning the number of out-of-town visitors the event attracts and if the money spent by the IGNC for an event magazine even qualified for funding under state HOT spending guidelines. The council took three votes before settling on the $7,000 figure. Motions to fund the Fiesta event at $6,000, $10,000 and $8,500 all failed on 3-3-1 votes. For the final vote, Mayor Al Arreola, Councilman J.P. Sanchez, Councilman LeRoy Briones and Councilman Randy Quinones voted in favor, Councilman Leno Hernandez and Councilwoman Elsa Reyes voted against and Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez abstained. In a related action, the council voted 6-0-1 to approve up to $5,000 in HOT funds for the Friends of La Adelita/Amigos de La Adelita 2026 Fiesta de Amistad Charro Extremo to be held Oct. 17-18.
Council awards contract for construction of Northside Sewer Line Project Phase I
City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution awarding the construction contract for Phase I of the Northside Sewer Line Project to Pesado Construction of San Antonio. The contract, for an estimated $6.5 million, will be funded through the city’s Texas Water Development Board allocations. City council members heard an update on the project earlier in the meeting.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
Items to discuss before publication: The funding paragraph still says both $8,000 and $7,000. The engineer’s surname appears as Nader twice and Naser once. The cleanup announcement gives a time and place but no date. I left all three as supplied.
