By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
All seven members of the city council were present.
Mayor proclaims Del Rio as ‘A Purple Heart City’
• Mayor Al Arreola presented James Powell and Chris Villarreal, leaders of the
organization FOB (Finding Our Brothers and Sisters) Del Rio, with a proclamation
designating Del Rio as “A Purple Heart City” for its support of military veterans. Powell
and Villarreal’s organization has received a $1 million federal grant to build a series of
“tiny homes” for local veterans who are homeless.
Public invited to ribbon cutting at renovated Southern Transportation Depot
• The city will host a ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the Southern
Transportation Depot, 100 E. Ogden St. during Tuesday’s meeting, City Purchasing
Agent Luis Menchaca gave city council members an update on the building’s grant-
funded rehabilitation, which is now complete. Menchaca also told the council the city’s
consultants on the project are seeking a historical designation for the facility, which
houses several city offices.
Council honors Heritage Academy students, staff for cleanup work
• Students and staff of the Heritage Academy were honored by Mayor Al Arreola and city
council and staff for their recent participation in the “Greatest American Cleanup,” a
national program “to encourage communities to join forces to clean and beautify their
cities and towns. The national cleanup program, held each year from March 1 through
May 31, dovetails with the state’s “Keep Texas Beautiful” campaign. Each of the
students who participated in the cleanup effort received a certificate of appreciation, and
many of the students attended Tuesday night’s meeting.
Council member questions additional cost of automated water meter project
• City council members heard an update on the city’s progress toward completing Phase
1, the water meter portion, of the automated metering infrastructure project. Council
members were told the Phase 1 portion of the project is 91.06 percent complete, and all of
them had questions about the project. Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus wanted to know why
city staff is requesting an additional $900,000 to complete the project.
Council denies agreement with bridge consultants for marketing campaign
• City council voted 7-0 to deny an ordinance to approve a supplemental agreement in the
amount of $107,610 for RRP Consulting Engineers, the city’s consultants on the
proposed second international bridge project. The additional money was slated to be used
by the consultants to conduct a public outreach campaign on the second international
bridge as the consultants continue to seek a presidential permit for the second bridge.
Council approves ordinance amendments for noise abatement
• City council members approved three ordinances amending three different chapters in
the Del Rio Code of Ordinances. In the first, the council voted 5-2 to add an article titled
“Noise and Sound Level Regulations.” In the second, the council voted 5-2 to repeal and
delete a standing article dealing with loudspeakers, and in the third, the council voted 7-0
to repeal and delete an article dealing with mufflers. The city recently held a public
hearing on the addition of sound level restrictions, and Del Rio Police Chief Frank
Ramirez told the council police and code enforcement officers would use “common
sense” in enforcing the new ordinance.
Council approves mayor’s trip to Mexico City
• City council members voted 7-0 to authorize Mayor Al Arreola to travel to Mexico City
to attend the Binational Bridges and Border Crossings Group meeting from June 9 to
June 11. Arreola is slated to give a presentation about the city’s efforts to build a second
international bridge during the meeting. According to a travel form presented to the
council, the trip will cost a total of $1,943.54.
Council ratifies appointment of city fire marshal
• City council voted 7-0 to ratify the appointment of Del Rio Fire Department Deputy
Chief Jose “Joey” De Luna as city fire marshal. De Luna began his career with the city’s
fire department on July 18, 2005, and was appointed deputy chief in October 2021.
DRFD Chief David Harrison said the city’s fire marshal “performs highly responsible
administrative and investigative work” for the fire department and will also work closely
with the city’s code enforcement officers.
Council adopts four major documents on water, wastewater and storm drainage
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve four resolutions to adopt the 2025 City of
Del Rio Water Master Plan, the 2024 City of Del Rio Wastewater Planning Actions
document, the 2025 City of Del Rio Master Watershed Study and the 2025 City of Del
Rio Design Manual for the Storm Drainage Facilities. All four of the documents are
available for Del Rioans to read and download on the city’s web site.
Council approves resolution for rehabilitation of East Springs containment wall
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing City Manager
Shawna Burkhart to approve a work order authorization in the amount of $241,965 from
Jimenez Engineering Solutions LLC, doing business as International Consulting
Engineers (ICE), for professional engineering services for the containment wall project.
Repair and reconstruction of the containment wall around the East Springs, one of two of
the city’s sources of drinking water, has been identified by Burkhart as one of the top
three water infrastructure priorities for the city.
Council establishes policy for the sale of city-owned right-of-way (ROW)
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution establishing a city policy for
the sale of city-owned right-of-way (ROW) upon abandonment, “including fair market
value procedures and a discount for retained easements.” The policy, presented to the council by City Planning and Zoning Director Janice Pokrant, “provides that abandoned
ROWs will be sold at a fair market value as determined by a certified appraiser, with a 50
percent reduction in sale price when the city retains a permanent easement.” Pokrant
noted the city “frequently receives requests for alley and ROW abandonments,
particularly in areas identified for redevelopment or infill development.”
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
