Roberto Luna, purchasing director for the City of Brownsville, delivers the presentation proposing approval of a $498,448 contract with Xtreme Security & Fire of Brownsville for a surveillance camera system in the downtown area. City commissioners approved the award. BRITNEY VALDEZ/THE RIDER PHOTOS
The Brownsville City Commission has awarded a contract for a downtown surveillance camera system.
The contract, awarded to Xtreme Security & Fire of Brownsville, includes the hardware, software, installation and one-year warranty for 40 cameras in the downtown area. Installation will be completed in late November and will cost $498,448.
Commissioners approved the contract award in 5-1 vote last Tuesday.
When District 2 Commissioner Jessica Tetreau asked where the money was coming from, Interim City Manager Michael Lopez replied that it comes from a previously approved $200,000 and open purchase orders that were previously encumbered and could be additional funding.
“I just think it’s half a million dollars for a very small area to be monitored,” said Tetreau, who cast the dissenting vote.
After the meeting, Tetreau told The Rider she supports the surveillance cameras.
“I do support the cameras coming in because it offers safety. … It is very important,” she said. “I just didn’t like the cost that was attached to it.”
The commission also unanimously approved the appointment of Interim Fire Chief Jarret V. Sheldon as the new fire chief.
Priscilla Alvarez, executive director of the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) program, addressed the commission on how the nonprofit organization is helping students.
“VIDA students are earning more college credits, they’re enrolling in college at a greater rate, and they’re earning more college credentials than those in a randomly assigned control group that did not receive VIDA services,” Alvarez said.
The application for the VIDA program can be found online at www.vidacareers.org. Case managers help applicants develop a training plan to ensure commitment to the program, according to the nonprofit’s website.
Applicants must be residents of the Rio Grande Valley, 18 years or older, eligible to work in the United States, be below the federal poverty guidelines, underemployed with family responsibilities earning less than $8.50 or unemployed with family responsibilities and registered with the Texas Workforce Commission.
Alvarez said that with grants it receives, the VIDA program was able to serve more students from the city without asking for more money.
The commission also recognized Lucy Lopez as Miss Teen H2O USA for 2018.
