By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All seven members were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Council goes into closed session after opening ceremonies
After opening ceremonies conducted by Scouting America Troop 255 of Del Rio, Mayor
Al Arreola announced the council would go into executive session to consult with its
attorneys on a lawsuit between the city and former City Manager Henry Arredondo
before taking up agenda items. The council went into closed session at 6:34 p.m. and
returned to open session at 7:14 p.m. Arreola announced no action was taken while the
council was behind closed doors, and the council continued with its agenda.
•
City manager presents “Your City at Work – 3 rd Quarter Report”
• City Manager Shawna Burkhart presented the third quarter report on work done or in
progress. She first addressed audits that had been completed and spoke about
infrastructure improvements for water and sewer and the low-cost loans the city is
attempting to obtain for those projects. She also addressed drainage projects, including a
detention pond at Carranza Park and land acquisition for a major San Felipe drainage
project, the landfill, efforts to recruit regional airlines service, fire department work,
including the additional of three new firefighters and swift water rescue training,
community services department work, W.I.C. training, transportation, including
completion of the renovation of the Del Rio Southern Pacific Passenger Depot building
and police department events.
•
Public works director gives update on projects
• City Public Works Director Greg Velazquez gave a presentation on ongoing public
works projects, including the detention pond at the Carranza Park, Griner and Strickland
Streets mill and overlay project, Del Rio International Bridge resurfacing project, San
Felipe drainage project, an $18 million water line replacement project on the city’s north
side, Silver Lake Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrades, progress on a new wastewater
trunk line for the north side, in-house street paving projects and paving in the Highland
Park Subdivision on the city’s east side.
•
Council votes to move on emergency sirens
• City council members voted 7-0 to proceed with three options to install emergency
outdoor sirens at 14 locations around the city. The three options recommended by city
staff will cost around $520,000. City Manager Shawna Burkhart said the city currently
has $177,500 set aside for sirens, but asked the council to hold off spending that money
until administrators can determine how much money, if any, can be obtained from state
grant funds for emergency notification. Burkhart told the council the Texas Legislature
during its current special session is considering funding for emergency warning systems
around the state.
•
Divided council passes code of ethics ordinance
• City council members voted 5-2 to approve an ordinance establishing a code of ethics
for the Del Rio City Council. Several council members questioned City Attorney Ana
Markowski Smith about the proposed ordinance. Council members have discussed
various portions of the ordinance over the last few months. Mayor Al Arreola, Mayor
Pro-tem Jim DeReus, Councilman J.P. Sanchez, Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez and Councilman Randy Quiñones voted
in favor of the ordinance, and Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. and Councilwoman Ernestina
“Tina” Martinez and voted against the ordinance.
•
Council postpones appointments to Envision Del Rio committee
• City council members voted 7-0 to table a resolution appointing members to the
“Envision Del Rio Implementation Committee” in support of the city’s comprehensive
plan. Council members approved establishing the committee at their June 10 meeting, at
the request of city staff.
•
Council approves parks and rec facility use policy
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution adopting a parks and recreation
facility usage policy. The council heard a presentation and discussed the proposed policy
in depth during a previous meeting. The new policy covers parks, pavilions, swimming
pools, volleyball courts, basketball courts, tennis courts, the skate garden, skate park,
gymnasiums, concession stands, field equipment storage building, multi-purpose fields,
practice fields, baseball fields, softball fields and soccer fields. City staff told council
members the new policy will be uploaded to the city’s web site and attached to the rental
agreements for each facility.
•
Council approves EDC funding for all-inclusive playground
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing the expenditure of
funds by the Del Rio Economic Development Corporation (DREDC) to partially fund the
city’s proposed all-inclusive playground at the William S. Nixon Sports Complex off
Kings Way. Assistant City Finance Director Roxy Soto told the council the DREDC has
pledged between $200,000 and $250,000 to the city’s efforts to fund the planned
playground.
•
Council approves moving ahead with gas rate study
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing City Manager
Shawna Burkhart to advertise for requests for qualifications for a rate study on gas rates
for the city. City staff told council members that gas rate studies are typically conducted
by the city every five years.
•
Council approves HOT funds for Brown Plaza Association
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve an ordinance authorizing a total of $10,000
in hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds to be paid to the Brown Plaza Association to be used
for advertising this year’s Diez y Seis de Septiembre events at the city’s historic Brown
Plaza. The events will include a kick-off on Sept. 7 and the celebration itself, which will
be held Sept. 14-16.
•
Council approves fee schedule for city services
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve an ordinance amending the city’s code of
ordinances by establishing a “consolidated fee schedule” for city services. After some
discussion initiated by Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez, the council agreed not to
increase any fees charged by the city’s transportation department. Gutierrez argued that
the $1 increase in charges for local transportation would most affect those least able to
pay more. The new schedule of fees is available for review on the city’s web site.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
