Last Wednesday, the Edinburg City Council authorized the submission of an application to the National Civic League for the 2019 All-American City Award.
The City of Edinburg earned the title of All-America City in 1968, 1995 and 2000. It recognizes the city’s ability to bring residents, organizations and government together to solve the challenges of their community.
“We know that the City of Edinburg achieves this 110 percent,” Carla M. Rodriguez, assistant city manager, told The Rider after the council’s special meeting.
The application deadline is March 6, and finalists will be announced in April. The All-America City Awards Competition will be held June 21 to 23 in Denver, Colo.
At weekly meetings, staff members have been working in committees to develop the framework for the application.
Each city must present three community-driven projects that must align with the criteria of:
–civic engagement
–inclusiveness and equity
–collaboration
“We are going to do our best to submit a winning proposal and try to achieve [it] again,” Rodriguez said.
During the meeting, councilmembers also authorized the application for membership to the Texas Quality Foundation and participation in the Texas Award for Performance Excellence (TAPE).
“[The membership] helps shape the culture of the city to a more efficient [one] and performance based,” City Manager Juan G. Guerra said.
Being a member of the organization can help the city earn the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, a program that focuses on an organization’s performance.
“Ultimately, my goal, and I know the council feels the same way,” Mayor Richard Molina said. “Priority is the All-America City.”
Councilmembers approved 3-1 an amendment to the city’s code of ordinances regarding the classification and compensation plan for non-civil service employees. Councilmember Gilbert Enriquez cast the “nay” vote.
Ramiro Gomez, current director of Solid Waste Management, was considered to fill the new position of director of Landfill Management. The position of assistant director of Landfill Management was added to the department, and approved to receive pay grade 114.
Guerra explained the compensation Gomez was receiving was not enough for the numerous responsibilities he had. Gomez’s salary is to remain the same, equivalent to his new responsibilities.
The amendment to the ordinance was rejected last month. Guerra decided to have the council re-evaluate the item since the city’s fiscal safety net was at risk.
“The city’s fiscal health was strongly at risk, and was really only supported by one individual,” Guerra said. “If we can separate these two, that will allow for the current employees to concentrate on landfill, and other employees to concentrate on solid waste operation services. It’s better for the city’s overall fiscal health, in my opinion.”
Molina asked Guerra to put together an advisory board to oversee the departments, “especially the one that brings in close to $9 million a year.”
In other business, Omar Ochoa received the official title of city attorney. Before Wednesday, Ochoa was interim city attorney since the end of November.
Ochoa and Guerra will begin negotiations on his new contract.
“Although, we considered you as the official city attorney since the beginning,” Molina said, followed by applause from the audience and city staff.
