City Council addresses Railroad blockage of streets and flooding issues
By: Jose G. Landa©
The Eagle Pass City Council held their monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at City Council Chambers at City Hall located at 100 South Monroe Street in Eagle Pass, Texas.
During the meeting, City Council addressed an ongoing problem with street and intersection blockages caused by Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad through long rail car trains and maneuvers in the local railroad yard. This constant and continuous blockage of City streets and intersections is interfering with emergency fire, ambulance, and police services to the community. Many local citizens also complain about the long periods of time that local streets are blocked by the railroad companies, sometimes as much as up to an hour or more.
This key Agenda item was discussed in Executive Session by City Council to consult with legal counsel regarding the status of negotiations between Union Pacific Railroad Company and City staff. This same issue was also discussed at the previous City Council meeting and the City Administration and Legal Counsel were instructed to contact Union Pacific Railroad representatives to address the critical safety and transportation issues presented by the continuous and excessive blockage of city streets and intersections.
After discussing the issue in Executive Session, City Council reconvened into Open Session and motioned that City Administration adhere to specific instructions discussed in Executive Session regarding the excessive blockage of streets and intersections and to research the possibility of the availability of Texas Department of Transportation funds for installing rail guards in City streets without them. The City Council unanimously approved this action regarding the railroad blockage of streets.
According to Union Pacific Railroad, the amount of railroad traffic through Eagle Pass into Mexico and vice-versa is expected to increase in the immediate future.
Another Agenda item discussed during Executive Session was a consultation with Legal Counsel regarding abandoned homes and structures within the City limits. Upon returning into Open Session, City Council authorized Legal Counsel to commence legal proceedings for the demolition of abandoned homes and structures within the City limits of Eagle Pass. City Council unanimously approved the motion to authorize Legal Counsel to commence legal proceedings against real property owners of abandoned homes and structures within City limits.
Also discussed in Executive Session was Agenda item No. 16 regarding consultation with Legal Counsel concerning the purchase of a certain real property in the downtown area. In Open Session, the City Council authorized City Manager Gloria Barrientos to continue negotiating with the property owners on the purchase of said property by the City. City Council unanimously approved this item.
Another Agenda item discussed was an update by City Manager Gloria Barrientos regarding the DeBona Arroyo and certain issues stemming from changes in and around the area.
Barrientos reported there are certain problems due to flooding issues that have surfaced along properties in the DeBona Arroyo area.
“ This is also part of an area where Union Pacific constructed additional Rail Road tracks and alterations were made to the Union Pacific Property,” said Barrientos.
Barrientos stated that a Union Pacific Railroad representative had been contacted regarding these flooding concerns and that Union Pacific provided the City with information that water runoff to the DeBona Arroyo would not increase as a result of their improvements.
“However, the rate of release due to the new construction did increase. And this may add to the flooding. The best possible solution at this time is to hire an engineering firm , that can perform and inspect the entire area and provide us with the alternatives to address this issue,” added Barrientos.
Barrientos also reported that the City is also performing studies in other areas where there are flooding issues.
Barrientos recommended to City Council that due to the increased growth of the City, the City needs to perform a new study to update the previous flooding study within the City.
“This is an item that was budgeted but it is not known how much it will cost at this time,” said Barrientos. The City Council will take action on these flooding issues in the future.
Another item deliberated was the discussion and possible approval of an Ordinance amending Article VIII, Chapter 19 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas, by deleting it in its entirety and adopting new Article VIII and adding new Sections 19-143, 19-144, and 19-145, Article VIII, Chapter 19, to provide for new administrative responsibility for the issuance of garage sales permits; update costs of permit issuance; to provide for cancelation or postponement of garage sales and denial, suspension, revocation and renewal of permit; enforcement and penalty for violations.
The new terms for the Garage Sales ordinance were discussed in detail but may be subject to change depending on any suggestions and public comments to the ordinance in future City Council meetings. The new Garage Sales ordinance must be read three times at City Council before being approved. Any citizen interested in reviewing or making public comments on the new Garage Sales ordinance may obtain a copy at the City Secretary’s Office and present their comments at the next City Council meeting.
Also discussed was the third and final reading of an Ordinance amending Section 2-222, Article VI of Chapter 2, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Eagle Pass, by deleting Section 2-222(b)(3) in its entirety; and adopting New section 2-222(b)(3) for appointment of relatives; and providing for an effective date. This amendment to this ordinance will allow City Council to appoint family members or relatives to non-paying, volunteer City Boards and Commissions. This amendment reversed a current prohibition against appointing family members and/or relatives to City Boards and Commissions. After a brief discussion, the City Council unanimously approved the amendment to the ordinance.
