The Rider - Brownsville City Commission

City discusses the weather response

The Good Neighbor Settlement House, located at 1254 E. Tyler St., was an active “warming center” during the Jan. 20 to 22 cold front. Belinda Bradford, assistant director at the house, said there were 30 men and 4 women in the house during the inclement weather. Sofia Cantú Sauceda/THE RIDER — The Good Neighbor Settlement House, located at 1254 E. Tyler St., was an active “warming center” during the Jan. 20 to 22 cold front. Belinda Bradford, assistant director at the house, said there were 30 men and 4 women in the house during the inclement weather.
**Sofia Cantú Sauceda/THE RIDER**

The Brownsville City Commission discussed Tuesday the city’s response due to the inclement weather in January and updates on board appointments for Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 3 project.

City manager’s update on inclement weather response

City Manager Helen Ramirez brought up the city response due to inclement weather on Jan. 20 and 21. Ramirez thanked the departments that worked collaboratively to assist Brownsville residents during the inclement weather.

Rene Tabarez Jr., emergency management administrator, said the city’s directors, assistant directors and the city manager’s office met with Director of Emergency Management Odee Leal on Jan. 21 in preparation for the inclement weather that was expected to move through Brownsville.

Tabarez said the team met on Jan. 16, 20 and 21 to speak with the National Weather Service of Brownsville for the anticipated weather and periodic updates.

“To continue providing services for the community, all city offices remained open for normal business hours during the weather event,” he said.

Tabarez said during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the team discussed opening facilities as warming centers on an as needed basis.

Locations were made available to the community members, including the Good Neighbor Settlement House, activated from Jan. 20 through 22; the Brownsville Sports Park and West Iglesia Bautista, both activated on Jan. 21.

Rene Tabarez Jr., emergency management administrator, presents the City of Brownsville’s Preparedness Plan for Inclement Weather, which was put into action during the January cold front, at Tuesday’s city meeting. “A total of 133 individuals utilized the warming shelters between Jan. 20 [and] 21,” Tabarez said.
Sofia Cantú Sauceda/THE RIDER — Rene Tabarez Jr., emergency management administrator, presents the City of Brownsville’s Preparedness Plan for Inclement Weather, which was put into action during the January cold front, at Tuesday’s city meeting. “A total of 133 individuals utilized the warming shelters between Jan. 20 [and] 21,” Tabarez said.
**Sofia Cantú Sauceda/THE RIDER**

“A total of 133 individuals utilized the warning shelters between Jan. 20 through 21,’’ Tabarez said. ‘’The Office of Emergency Management team continuously monitored the weather while providing weather updates as they were available.”

Mayor John Cowen thanked city staff and all the departments that were involved to prepare for the inclement weather.

“It is clear that there was a need and you guys came through and helped those 133 individuals, so thank you so much,” Cowen said.

Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3

Allan Garces, downtown revitalization manager, brought up updates and board appointments for the reactivated Downtown TIRZ #3 projects.

Allan E. Garces, downtown revitalization manager, presents the expansion of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3 board from six to 10 members. Sofia Cantú Sauceda/THE RIDER — *Allan E. Garces, downtown revitalization manager, presents the expansion of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3 board from six to 10 members.*
**Sofia Cantú Sauceda/THE RIDER**

Garces said the TIRZ project will now have seven appointments by the city commission and the mayor. Cameron County will join them when they sign through their interlocal agreement, so at this time the mayor and the commission can make appointments.

He provided previous board appointments that were under the old TIRZ agreement and stipulations and who they were appointed by.

“As I mentioned earlier this is for the mayor and the commission to all make appointments if they can and if they want to at this time,” Garces said.

City Commissioner District 3 Roy De los Santos said he was going to hold his appointment because he wants to speak to the old board appointments that Garces presents and confirm if they would like to be reappointed before he brings in somebody new.

Pedro Cardenas, city commissioner District 4, asked Garces if there is any conflict if they own multiple buildings downtown.

“No, there’s no conflict,” Garces replied.

The city commission decided to hold their appointments to be carried for upcoming city meetings.

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