Eagle Pass City Council approves Tax Abatement Ordinance and funds City Employee Pay Plan
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council unanimously approved the third and final reading of an Ordinance adopting guidelines and criteria for granting tax abatements in reinvestment zones within the city limits of Eagle Pass and the amendment of the City budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 to fund the City’s Employee Pay Plan at their Tuesday, December 3, 2013, Regular Meeting held at the City Council Chambers at City Hall in Eagle Pass.
The Eagle Pass City Council approved the third and final reading of the Tax Abatement Ordinance which establishes guidelines and criteria for the granting of tax abatements in reinvestment zones to be designated within the city limits to encourage and attract new real estate and industrial investments to the community as well as expand existing local businesses real estate and industrial developments. Mayor Ramsey English Cantu stated the Tax Abatement Ordinance will allow the City of Eagle Pass to compete with other cities in attracting new real estate and industrial investments to Eagle Pass. Mayor Ramsey English Cantu pointed out that existing local businesses and investors will also be eligible for tax abatements within certain designated reinvestment zones in the city for expansion of their real estate and industrial projects. The reinvestment zones within the City of Eagle Pass will be designated in the future by the City Council. The City Council unanimously approved the Tax Abatement Ordinance.
Another key agenda item unanimously approved by the City Council was a resolution amending the City budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 by $822,000 to fund the City Employee Pay Plan which was previously approved at the November 19, 2013 Special Meeting. City Manager Gloria Barrientos advised the City Council that the City budget for the current 2013-2014 fiscal year needed to be amended by $822,000 in order to fund the City Employee Pay Plan approved at the last meeting by City Council and that $710,000 of the funds were being transferred from the City’s Legislative Account, the Finance Department, Police Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and other departments to help fund the estimated $822,000 cost of implementation of the Employee Pay Plan to be effective December 4, 2013. City Manager Gloria Barrientos informed the City Council that the City’s Employee Pay Plan is almost 100% complete as a few minor details needed to be worked out in the next two weeks. Mayor Ramsey English Cantu congratulated all the City Department Heads and employees who worked with extreme professionalism and tirelessly to develop and finalize the Employee Pay Plan. Mayor Cantu stated the new Employee Pay Plan will compensate City employees according to their job classification and experience and will help to retain valuable experienced employees with the City. City Councilman Rudy Villalpando added that the Employee Pay Plan will assist the City grow and contribute to the overall economic development of the City, as well as congratulated the City Employee Pay Plan Committee for doing an excellent job in developing and passing the pay plan.
The City Council also unanimously approved a resolution designating the Eagle Pass Business Journal as the Official Newspaper of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas for fiscal year 2013-2014.
Another agenda item unanimously approved by the City Council was an agreement between the City of Eagle Pass Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to allow three City police officers to participate in the D.E.A.’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program/Task Force. City Manager Gloria Barrientos advised the City Council that this agreement is a federal grant for the amount of $381,000 to cover up to three City police officers’ salaries and participation in the D.E.A. Task Force while the City has to provide the City police officers their vehicle. City Manager Gloria Barrientos told the City Council that the Eagle Pass Police Department annually participates in this task force and that this City-Federal government collaboration is important in eliminating drugs and other offenses from the community.
The City Council also unanimously approved the awarding of certain bids on storm drainage pipe for the Mignon Thornton property, storm drainage pipe for the Roosevelt Street property, asphalt paving, road micro-surfacing system, and street construction to repair damages to City infrastructure and drainage projects as a result of the June 14-15, 2013 flood.
Another agenda item unanimously approved by the City Council was the final plat of Maverick Arms Subdivision. City Planner Daniel Shea advised the City Council that Maverick Arms, Inc. is constructing and developing two buildings, one of 100,000 square feet and another of 16,000 square feet, on an 15 acre site to expand its manufacturing and production capabilities at its Eagle Pass plant, creating new jobs in the community.
The City Council also unanimously approved the final plat of MCIMC Subdivision.
City Council members present at the December 3rd regular meeting were Mayor Ramsey English Cantu, Mayor Pro-Tem Luis E. Sifuentes, Councilman Rudy Villalpando, and City Councilwoman Gloria Hernandez. City Councilman William “Billy” Davis was absent at the meeting.
