City Council approve Mass Notification System for Community
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
During their monthly meeting held on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, the Eagle Pass City Council discussed a bevy of important agenda items such as the approval of a service agreement between the City of Eagle Pass and Everbridge Inc. for a Mass Notification System.
City Manager Gloria Barrientos presented the item to City Council and stated that the cost of the subscription to the mass notification system is 10,248.27 for a one year subscription.
“The system will only cover residents in the city limits. This will basically allow us to send vital emergency information to the public and safety reminders and it can also be used to poll the general public on different issues. Rather than having the sirens and nobody knowing what it is this system would actually send a text, phone call or an email to individuals who are registered to the system,” said Barrientos.
Barrientos stated Maverick County had been notified of this system and that they are interested in participating as well.
Barrientos told City Council that the City would enter into a contract but would wait to see if Maverick County desired to join the mass notification system in order to launch the system jointly.
Eagle Pass Fire Chief Jesus Rodriguez discussed with the details of how the mass notification system works and that participation in the system would be gathered as residents voluntarily enrolled in the system.
City Council also unanimously approved an Inter-Agency agreement with the Las Colonias Head Start regarding the use of a building located at 2558 El Indio Highway as an Emergency Shelter to provide safety for its over 200 students.
City Council also unanimously approved a City Resolution providing support of regulations regarding the sale, storage, transportation and disposal of scrap/ used tires. This was a request by Maverick County for a resolution of support to eliminate the number of tires discarded within the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County. The City is committed to protecting the well-being of its citizens and acknowledges the proliferation of discarded tires throughout the city has become a health and safety issue, to control the rapid increase of discarded tires that constitute breeding grounds for different mosquitos and/or habitat for wildlife, avoid the costly measure of continuously collection of tires throughout the city, request Legislative measures to harness an unsightly and continuous growth of scrap tires, prohibiting citizens from taking discarded tires with them after purchasing new tire, need of aggressive legislation to regulate the sale and transportation of scrap and used tires in Texas, and request assistance from the Legislature to help eliminate the number of discarded tires throughout the cities of Texas.
City Council also unanimously approved a Resolution adopting the Texas Department of Transportation Quality Assurance Program for construction.
City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Rosy De los Santos, Lisa Cain, Blanca Doig, Terri Contreras, Lourdes Muñoz-Perez,Sonia Tovar, RN, Dr. Hector Alvarez, Hilda Martinez, PhD, Robert Gelacio, Lety Villanueva, Patty Rodriguez, Gerry Galvan, Gloria Barrientos and Rosie Aguirre to the Mayor’s Fitness Council.
City Council approved Alvaro Frausto as a Commissioner to the City Planning and Zoning Commission.
Melinda Hernandez, Cecilia Mascorro, Sara Salinas, and Dr. Aaron Alexander were all appointed as Board members of the Animal Grievance Board of the City of Eagle Pass.
City Council also approved the selection of LNV, Inc., as the engineering firm for Texas Community Development Block Grant (Contract #713140) Carthage Place Drainage Improvements.
City Council also heard a presentation of the preliminary traffic engineering findings regarding the project area for the North Bibb Avenue Traffic Study and the solicitation of public input regarding North Bibb Avenue transportation issues. This traffic report study had been approved this past year and will be completed with recommendations to alleviate certain traffic issues that are being seen throughout North Bibb Avenue.
City Council then convened in executive session to discuss 3 agenda items. Once back in open session Mayor Cantu called for action on agenda item No.25.
Mayor Pro-Tem Luis E. Sifuentes motioned to award the contract for architectural/engineering firm for renovations to the Public Safety Complex and formation of an Over-Site Committee by Resolution and appointment of the members by the City Council. After no further discussion the agenda item was approved unanimously.
On executive session agenda item 26 Mayor Pro-Tem Luis E. Sifuentes also made the motion to approve the awarding of the agreement and addendum of Freese and Nichols, Inc..
No discussion was had on this agenda item and it was also approved unanimously.
On agenda item No.27, Mayor Cantu stated there was no action taken regarding consultation with legal counsel and discussion of personnel matters – City Manager, but that it would again be discussed at the next City Council meeting. Apparently, the City Council will be evaluating City Manager Gloria Barrientos.
