By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All seven members of the city council were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Citizens address council
• Two citizens spoke to council during the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting.
Former Del Rio councilman and retired police officer Steve Webb took the council to
task for considering cutting at least 25 jobs from the city payroll for the next fiscal year.
Webb claimed that when he was on the council several years ago, the city “had a healthy
reserve” and now noted the city is claiming a $6 million deficit before other cuts were
made. Newly-transplanted Del Rioan Ed Schreiber spoke to the council about the city’s
efforts to restore commercial air service to the city.
•
City manager announces upcoming events
• City Manager Shawna Burkhart announced two upcoming events later in the week: a
breastfeeding celebration in honor of World Breastfeeding Week, which will be held at
the Red Oak Room at the Del Rio Civic Center, 1915 Veterans Blvd., from 9 a.m. to
noon today (Aug. 13). There will be door prizes and games of loteria. Burkhart also
announced a “Nature Ninja Birding Presentation,” which will be held Sunday, Aug. 17,
from 7 a.m. to noon at the Casa De La Cultura and along the San Felipe Creek. Both
events are free and open to the public.
•
Main Street Program update presented
• City Main Street Manager Jorge Garza presented the 2025 Accredited Program from
Main Street America and Texas Main Street Program to city council. Garza also
presented the council with an update on the city’s Main Street Program, focusing on a
number of activities held downtown over the past few months. He spoke about the façade
grants that have been awarded over the past year, murals that have been painted on
buildings downtown and a variety of events that have been held.
•
Council accepts 2025 property tax appraisal roll
• Val Verde County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Jackie Casanova presented city
council members with the 2025 property tax appraisal roll for the city of Del Rio.
Casanova formally certified the city of Del Rio market value at $2,950,306,357.00 and
the city of Del Rio taxable value at $1,999,216,533.00. Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez
asked by what percent the values had increased, and Casanova replied that the overall
increase was about 3 percent, but that the final number won’t be known until the values
of all of the properties currently under review are resolved by the appraisal review board.
•
Council votes to set property tax rate
• City council members voted 7-0 to set the 2025 city property tax rate at $0.707000 per
$100 of property value. City Manager Shawna Burkhart told the council that the new rate
represents a one-cent increase over the city’s current property tax rate of $0.697000 per
$100 of property value. Burkhart said she had initially proposed a two-cent increase in
the city’s property tax rate for next year, but had adjusted the rate following a budget
work session with the council on Saturday. The council took a roll call vote on the tax
rate as is required by state law.
•
City manager presents third draft of budget to council
• City Manager Shawna Burkhart and members of the city’s finance department
presented the third draft of changes in the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget.
Burkhart continued recommending the elimination of 24 full-time and four part-time city
positions in the budget. She also recommended restoring a $90,000 payment to Val Verde
County for the operation of the county’s women’s shelter and adding $4,000 to the
budget for the city’s senior water aerobics program. Councilman Randy Quiñones said he
would like to see some contribution restored to the Bethel Center and asked how much of
a deficit the city would face if it did not cut any city employees. Burkhart said she and
staff would review Quiñones’ recommendations and present another draft to the council
on Aug. 26.
•
Council votes to sell Hernandez Street property
• City council members voted 6-0-1, with Councilman J.P. Sanchez abstaining, to look
into selling a property the city owns at 500 Hernandez St. The city had initially purchased
the building to serve as headquarters to a city department, then looked into renovating the
building as a community center. Eventually both those plans were abandoned. City
Manager Shawna Burkhart told the council the city has received one inquiry from
someone interested in buying the building and one inquiry from someone who wants to
lease it.
•
Council appoints new economic development director
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution approving the appointment of
Orestes Hubbard as the new city economic development director. Hubbard comes to the
border from San Antonio where he has been employed as the executive director of
underserved business services for the University of Texas at San Antonio since 2006.
Hubbard is bilingual and brings more than 25 years of experience in program
management, federal grant administration and underserved business support. Hubbard is
slated to meet the members of the city’s economic development corporation board.
•
Council appoints two to board of adjustments
• City council members voted 7-0 to appoint George Salinas, a retired real estate agent, to
approve a resolution appointing George Salinas to serve on the city’s board of
adjustments. The council also voted 7-0 to approve a resolution reappointing Alejandro
Pineda to the city’s board of adjustments. Pineda was initially appointed in May for a
term on the board ending Aug. 13. He reappointment will allow him to serve for two
years, on a term expiring in 2027.
Council approves contract for investment advisory services
• City council members voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing City Manager
Shawna Burkhart to award a contract to Valley View Consulting, of Huddleston, Va., for
investment advisory services. The investment advisory services consultant “works with
the investment advisor in creating investment reports” and assists “in developing cash
flow projections and advises (staff) on market conditions and economic data.”
•
Council directs city manager to negotiate landfill contract
• City council members voted 7-0 to authorize City Manager Shawna Burkhart to
negotiate a contract with Platform Waste Solutions for landfill services. Burkhart told the
council she had received “many concerns” regarding vendor operations, especially
regarding the lack of compaction at the landfill. Platform is the company that took over
the city’s trash collection and landfill operations service after the previous vendor, Red
River Waste Solutions, declared bankruptcy. Council members also spent some time
discussed the curbside recycling portion of the city’s trash collection efforts.
•
Council reappoints members to appraisal district board
• City council members voted 7-0 to reappoint Mayor Pro-Tem Jim DeReus and Del Rioan Karen
Gonzalez to serve as the city’s representatives on the Val Verde County Appraisal
District’s board of directors. Both DeReus and Gonzalez said they would like to be
reappointed and continue serving on the board.
•
Divided council approves payment to IGNC-Del Rio
• Following a lengthy discussion and a failed vote to postpone action, city council
members voted 4-3 to approve an ordinance authorizing the payment of $10,000 being
requested by representatives of the International Good Neighbor Council-Del Rio chapter
to support the annual Fiesta de Amistad activities. The council first voted 3-4 on a motion
by Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus to postpone action on the IGNC’s request. After
additional discussion, Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. made a motion to approve the
ordinance, which passed on a 4-3 vote.
•
Council discusses city attorney’s letter of resignation
• After an hour-long discussion following a closed-door executive session, city council
members voted 6-1 to accept a letter from City Attorney Ana Markowski Smith
rescinding an earlier letter tendering her resignation from the post of city attorney. Smith
had apparently submitted a letter of resignation in late June, then sent a second letter
rescinding the first on Aug. 5. The council was set to go over the issue in executive
session, but Smith asked that all discussion be held in public session. Eventually the
council voted to accept Smith’s second letter, with only Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr.
voting against the motion.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
