City Council discusses Annexation Plan, Bridge Expansion and New Programs, and appoints members to several City Boards
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Eagle Pass City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at City Council Chambers located inside City Hall, 100 South Monroe Street, in Eagle Pass, Texas, discussing several important topics including annexation, International Bridge expansion and new programs, and appointed members to several City Boards or Committees.
During the monthly City departmental reports, City Councilman Luis Sifuentes expressed concerns regarding two items: the poor disposition of trash at public parks by citizens and the unlawful use of cell phones by automobile drivers in local public school zones.
“Over a year ago, the State passed a law that no cell phones on school zones and every morning that I drop off my kids at school I see parents driving with their cell phones on their ears driving right through front of the campus. I think we need to be more vigilant and enforce these laws because it is a safety hazard to the children that are walking through the streets,” said Councilman Sifuentes. “I think it’s something we need to address to make people understand that it is not going to be tolerated,” added Sifuentes.
Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu concurred with Sifuentes stating that it was an issue that needed to be addressed through the City’s Police Department and its public relations campaign to remind the community of the state law in place and enforcement at school zones. “I do know that there are Officers out there. I just think maybe we need to tweak some of the areas where we are seeing some of the concerns,” said Mayor Cantu.
The City Council addressed an agenda item regarding the implementation of a three year Annexation program. Langley and Banack attorney Ruben Barrera of San Antonio, Texas presented City Council a brief history of Eagle Pass’ annexation history and overall annexation process in Texas. “There is a process that you will go through,” said Barrera. The City of Eagle Pass has not annexed any areas since 2011 according to Barrera. Barrera explained to City Council how annexation extends the City’s Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction outside the city limits and what public services the City of Eagle Pass would be required to provide any newly annexed area, such as police protection, fire protection, water and sewer services, parks and recreation services, and other services.
After his presentation, Barrera asked City Council what areas do they think are potential areas to be annexed. Mayor Cantu suggested raw land on Loop 480,the Eagle Pass Independent School District Student Activity Center area, and Seco Mines area. Councilman Luis Sifuentes suggested Seco Mines, Las Quintas Fronterizas, Loop 480, and Eidson Road area. Councilman Rudy Villalpando suggested Las Quintas Fronterizas and Siesta Acres.
The City Council unanimously approved to direct the City Manager or her designee to recommend to the City Council before the end of the year which areas should be looked to be annexed by the City of Eagle Pass in the next three years. Any citizen who wishes to have their area to be annexed by the City of Eagle Pass should contact City Manager Gloria Barrientos at (830) 773-1111.
City Manager Gloria Barrientos presented an update on the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 expansion project which will have a budget of $5.1 million dollars with funding coming from the Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Eagle Pass. The TXDOT Grant is for $5,090,236 (million) dollars. The project layout will accommodate future expansions. Projections for the construction period should be between May 1, 2015 and April 30, 2016.
Barrientos also presented City Council a report of two International Bridge programs available to the City to expedite inspections as part of Agenda Item No. 7. Barrientos stated the first option is the Sentry Lane program currently used at other U.S.-Mexico border crossings. The Sentry Lane program is for motorists coming from Mexico into the United States only to expedite their U.S. Customs inspection at Bridge No. 2. This program is for low-security risk persons who must submit themselves through an application, interview, and fee of $122.25 process to become eligible. Mexico designates a lane specifically for Sentry Lane users only into the Eagle Pass Bridge No. 2. Mayor Cantu stated that Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico officials have already committed to the Sentry Lane at their Binational meetings. Mayor Cantu stated “the Sentry Lane is a great opportunity to get people and commerce through the port of entry faster.”
The second program is the Section 559 program of Donation and Acceptance through U.S. Customs and Border Protection and General Services Administration. This requires the City of Eagle Pass to donate either real or personal property to the U.S. government to pay for extra Customs Inspectors at peak Bridge crossing periods. Barrientos stated that the City has until December 31st to submit a written proposal to the U.S. government for their review and acceptance. This program is now being used at some U.S.-Mexico border crossings to expedite traffic and commerce into the U.S. In essence, the City of Eagle Pass would agree to pay for the labor costs of extra U.S. Customs inspectors to be used at peak traffic periods. City Council asked Barrientos to work on a proposal for the City under this Section 559 program as well.
Barrientos also presented an update report on the City of Eagle Pass Tax Abatement Review Committee as part of Agenda Item No. 8. Barrientos noted that the City Tax Abatement Review Committee includes one City Council member, the Mayor as an Ex-Officio member, three City Business Owners or Individuals, and the City Attorney. City Council has not completed appointing the three business owners or individuals. Barrientos noted that the City now has one pending request for tax abatements awaiting the Committee.
On another agenda item, the City Council discussed and approved that City Manager Gloria Barrientos execute a Professional Services Agreement and an Addendum with James T. Rodriguez Consulting Engineers Incorporated to inspect the electrical and mechanical systems at the International Center for Trade and provide a written report containing recommendation for system improvements. This is to address some deficiencies previously noted. The cost of this professional services agreement is $8,500 dollars.
Another agenda item called for City Council discuss and approve a Professional Services Agreement with The Retail Coach to create a retail economic development plan for the City of Eagle Pass. City Council unanimously approved the City of Eagle Pass through City Manager Gloria Barrientos enter into an agreement with The Retail Coach for a retail economic development plan providing a market analysis, location data, demand assessment, retail strategies, developer strategies, downtown revitalization, action plan development, and retail coaching. The cost should not exceed $42,500 dollars.
City Council also approved a resolution re-appointing local attorney Kimberly Cantu to the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System Board of Trustees as part of Agenda item no. 12. member to the Eagle Pass International Bridge System Board of Trustees. Councilmen William Davis, Rudy Villalpando, and Mayor Pro-Tem Luis Sifuentes voted in favor while Mayor Cantu abstained.
City Council also approved a resolution appointing five new members to the City Hotel Occupancy Room Tax Committee including Adriana Perez, Samuel Mijares, Yolanda Ramon, Dora Alicia Chavez Gonzalez, and Martha Pena as part of Agenda Item No. 14.
Council also went into executive session pursuant to Section 551.071 & 551.072, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code – Consultation with Legal Counsel and Deliberation about real property regarding Southwest Texas Junior College expansion and request for use/lease of adjacent city owned property at the International Center for Trade; deliberation regarding letter of intent executed by City Manager regarding same; and to authorize City Manager or legal counsel to negotiate the terms of the use/lease agreement.
After returning to Open Session, City Council unanimously approved to authorize City Manager Gloria Barrientos to negotiate and enter into a lease agreement with Southwest Texas Junior College for the real property in question at the International Center for Trade.
City Council also presented the Eagle Pass Housing Authority with a proclamation for addressing the public housing needs of low income families in Eagle Pass, for receiving a high performer score from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during 2013, and in celebration of the Housing American Month campaign. Interestingly, the Eagle Pass Housing Authority’s High Performer Award for 2013 was under former Executive Director Carla Y. Mancha-Juarez’s administration.
