By CATHERINE DONNELLY
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito City Commissioners’ regular meeting on Tuesday, February 20 began with a “get out the vote” announcement stressing the importance of the coming March 5 election.
City leaders also stressed that the City is in Stage 2 water restriction until further notice. San Benito Mayor Ricardo “Rick” Guerra asked that citizens and businesses to follow the rules and do their part to conserve water while under this mandate. For more information, visit www.cityofsanbenito.com.
Of note, Thursday, March 14 is the next monthly “City Hall for All” to be held from 4 – 7 p.m. at John F. Kennedy Park & Pavilion, 400 Freddy Fender Ln. To help build community outreach, the City of San Benito launched its inaugural “City Hall for All” initiative in January. Elected officials, city administration and various department directors were on hand to answer questions, discuss issues and provide valuable education pertaining to City operations. “We are taking City Hall to the residents in their own neighborhoods,” said San Benito City Manager Fred Sandoval, according to the city’s website. “We plan on making this a monthly affair and moving it to a different area of the city each time.”
The City of San Benito financials for the period ending on December 31, 2023 were presented. The City collected $698,668.11 in sales tax in December 2023, with 25% going to the Economic Development Corporation and 75% staying in the city coffers.
Capital improvements and street rehabilitation maintenance continues, according to the City. The project on South Bowie was completed and the crew is now working on Commerce St. and starting to do curb removal on Coke St. as well. Completed were 42 city blocks in 2023 and the City is on pace to finish all 92 blocks that were on the approved list from last April since the majority of the streets left to work on are on the smaller side.
On some of the streets, the city crews will coordinate with the water company to replace the water lines to avoid double work. The City may have list completed within the next few months.
The City is also working on getting a map online that will allow residents to look and see the approximate time frame that their street will be worked on, largely depending on weather conditions.
Since implementing the street rehabilitation program in 2017, the City has fixed approximately 139 miles of roads up to this point and is looking to hire a few more workers for the crews. The City would like to add two blocks to the list on Sam Houston. The City can possibly use the extra materials from the other streets to do the word since it’s needed.
Also pending are bathroom improvements at Landrum Park. The City has a layout and a cost estimate.
It was reported that the park suffers from constant vandalism, with equipment being broken, etc. It was reported that Landrum Park has allocations from the CDPG dating back to 2018 and there is still no structure there. There will be a deadline coming up and then the City will have to return the money so there was an emphasis made at the meeting to keep the project on track.
There is also concern that the City cemetery grounds are not being kept up.
Finally, the City stressed the need to initiate a parks’ improvement plan.
Up next were consent agenda items 1, 4, 5 and 6, which were taken up together in one motion and passed.
These items were to: approve the minutes of the June 20, 2023 City of San Benito Regular City Commission Meeting, the June 27, 2023 City of San Benito Special City Commission Meeting and Budget Workshop 1; approve a Memorandum of Agreement Number R-RGV-TF-2024-0002 with the Lower Rio Grande Valley TPDES Storm water Task Force Partnership, Inc., for representative appointment to the Regional Lower Rio Grande Valley TPDES Storm water Task Force; approve the purchase of police uniforms for the San Benito Police Department from GT Distributors, Inc. in the total amount of $12,097.11; and, approve the final payment to U.S. Water Service Corporation pertaining to the Resaca Water Line Project in the total amount of $15,384.00.
The Commission also approved the Second Reading of Ordinance Number 2409-H-B which amends Ordinance 2409-H-A, Section 13.006, Deposits and Fees, and adopting amended Deposits and Fees in the San Benito Code of Ordinances, setting forth other provisions related thereto. The city was not breaking even under the old ordinance mostly due to the increased price of water meters, so the new one not only went in and clarified some of the language, but also brought the fees up to the levels of surrounding comparable communities of Harlingen, Mercedes, Edinburg, Weslaco and Los Fresnos, and for instance, increasing the price based on the size of the water meter and there is now a difference in price between meters inside or outside of the city limits and charging tapping fees. The second reading of the ordinance passed unanimously.
The Commission also took consideration and possible action to ratify Ordinance 2376-002 amending Ordinance 2376-1, and any other amending ordinances, and codified in the Code of Ordinances in Chapter 13, Utilities Ordinance 13.09 Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan to amend sections in this ordinance and to remove section 10 Additional System Information.
This ordinance came about because of the current severe drought situation despite the recent rains. The irrigation district said that they had not implement push water in the last 100 years. While updating the ordinance, all the clerical errors were cleaned up and the city needed to clarify matters for the citizens.
The city is working together with the International Boundary and Water Commission and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Irrigation District. If the issue is not dealt with, then the farmers will not be able to continue farming due to the cost of irrigation. There is only a couple of months of drinking water dammed up and that’s it. The city is asking the public to be careful how they’re using the water now in order to prevent a more severe drought. The item passed unanimously.
The Commission took consideration and possible action to award Bid 2023-12-006 for a 36-month Uniform Rental Service and approve a Service Agreement with Cintas Corporation. At first glance, it looks like the city didn’t go with the lowest bidder, but if it’s broken down as to what the city actually uses, it does wind up being cheaper. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion passed to move items number 8, 9 and 10 to Executive Session on the advice of counsel. Item eight was regarding rescinding the Concession Agreement with 80’s Bar and Grill, LLC. for the 2024 Hog Waddle Concert on March 22-23, 2024.
Item nine referred to rescinding the Equipment Rental/Professional Services Contract with BLG Management, LLC., for the 2024 Hog Waddle Concert.
Item ten refers to the possible ratification of a contract with Carpe Nox Entertainment, LLC, for consulting services to promote the 2024 Hog Waddle Concert and approve payment in the amount of $42,500.00.
In executive session, the Commission consulted with the city attorney pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 552.107(1) to discuss privileged communication protected by the attorney-client privilege. After Executive Session, a motion passed approving items 8, 9 and 10, with only Commissioner Carol Lynn Sanchez acting as the lone dissenter. The Commission then adjourned.
1 comments
Good luck 🙂