UTRGV President Guy Bailey is flanked by Veronica Gonzales, vice president of Governmental and Community Relations, and Helen Ramirez, Brownsville city manager, after the Brownsville City Commission approved a proclamation Tuesday recognizing the university’s achievements. Also shown (back row, from left) are District 1 City Commissioner Bryan L. Martinez, District 2 City Commissioner Linda C. Macias, City Commissioner At-Large “A” Tino Villarreal Jr., Mayor John Cowen Jr., City Commissioner At-Large “B” Rose Gowen and District 3 City Commissioner Roy De Los Santos. Azenett Valdez/THE RIDER PHOTOS
The Brownsville City Commission on Tuesday recognized UTRGV as a top-rated university, canceled increases to the Resaca Fee and approved the first reading of an ordinance on BYOB establishments.
District 1 Commissioner Bryan L. Martinez read the proclamation citing UTRGV’s accomplishments.
Some of the achievements include UTRGV being the second-largest-Hispanic serving institution in the nation and how it is committed to serving the Rio Grande Valley via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success while also supporting community engagement and well-being, according to the proclamation.
Guy Bailey, UTRGV president, and Veronica Gonzales, vice president of Governmental and Community Relations, accepted the proclamation. Bailey then went to the lectern to thank the commission.
“When we are ranked very highly … we realize that we’ve done our job, but we didn’t do it by ourselves, we did it in partnership with you,” Bailey said.
He said the university accomplished it in part with its partnership with the community.
“So, the ranking of our institution is our ranking but it is also our ranking,” Bailey said, referring to the public. “It’s the ranking for all of us in the Rio Grande Valley.”
The commission then passed a motion to keep the Resaca Fee at the fixed rate of $6.25. As previously reported in the Nov. 13 issue of The Rider, the city commission approved the first reading of Ordinance 2023-1701-A on Nov. 7. The Resaca Fee was approved by the commission on May 3, 2022, and went into effect June 1, 2022, at $4.50, according to the Brownsville Public Utilities Board website.
The rate increased to $6.25 on Jan. 1, 2023, and was scheduled to continue increasing 6% in 2024-25 at $10 and 5% in 2026 at $12, according to its website.
Approval of the second and final reading to cancel the scheduled increase to the Resaca Fee was passed unanimously as a consent agenda item.
In other business, the commission unanimously passed the first reading of Ordinance 2023-1733, which “establishes regulations for commercial establishments that are not licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission but allows patrons to bring their own alcoholic beverages onto the premises for consumption,” according to agenda documents.
The ordinance amends the fee schedule as follows: $100 for a BYOB permit, $466 for a BYOB inspection and $350 for a BYOB reinspection. The after-hours businesses must close at 2:15 a.m.
On Oct. 3, the Brownsville Police Department gave a presentation citing an increase in call volume due to a loophole that allows BYOB after-hour businesses, who do not follow TABC regulations because they do not sell alcohol, to stay open longer. Any public place cannot have alcohol after 2:15 a.m. However, BYOB businesses were not considered a public place, allowing them to stay open until after 2 a.m., according to James Paschall, commander of support services for the department.
The Police Department was to come back with a proposal for the city commission’s approval. The proposed ordinance was brought forward Tuesday for a public hearing and a first reading.
The legal, police and planning departments worked on the ordinance, said Paschall, who gave the presentation.
“A key provision in this ordinance would limit the hours of operation of the businesses to 2:15 a.m.,” Paschall said.
Other key provisions listed in the ordinance are
–a manager must be on duty
–must be 18 years of age to enter
–approved security plan
–minimum security requirements, which include metal detection on all persons
–well-lit parking areas
–one security officer per 100 patrons
–proper signage.
Paschall said the Police Department held a town hall with the business owners Oct. 13, going over the same presentation.
“The event was well-attended,” he said. “The elephant in the room was the 2:15 a.m. closure and there was a lengthy discussion on the issue.”
After Tuesday’s presentation, the floor was opened for questions. District 3 City Commissioner Roy De los Santos asked Paschall if the intent of the ordinance is to shut down after-hour places.
“It’s to bring them to 2:15 a.m. closure,” Paschall replied.
City Commissioner At-Large “B” Rose Gowen motioned to approve and City Commissioner District 2 Linda C. Macias seconded. The first reading passed unanimously.
Commissioners also awarded a $345,067.60 contract to Cornerstone Builders for the Bus Shelter Improvement Program. Six vendors submitted bids to the city, according to the procurement analysis.
Cornerstone Builders was the lowest bidder. The project includes the enhancement of 32 bus stops, adding solar-powered bus shelters and ADA accessible sidewalks, according to the agenda memo.
