Jo Redcliffe (from left), UTRGV associate professor and Master of Science in Social Work program director; Lauren Serafy, lecturer I and associate director of Human Mobility Institute; and Richard Sanchez, associate vice president for Governmental Relations, pose for a photo during the March 5 Brownsville City Commission meeting. The city commission recognized the UTRGV School of Social Work for National Social Work Month. Estefania Ramirez/THE RIDER
The Brownsville City Commission passed a motion to extend the public hearing on the proposed Roadway Capital Recovery Fee until April 2 during a regular meeting March 5.
Before opening the public hearing, District 3 Commissioner Roy De los Santos said his inclination was to extend the hearing until another month, or 45 days, as the last member for the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee was to be finalized during the meeting.
He said extending the public hearing would give the Ad Hoc committee time to work and provide recommendations.
City Manager Helen Ramirez said De Los Santos’ stance was consistent with the City staff recommendation.
Joel Garza, director of Multimodal Transportation, said the first Ad Hoc meeting was March 6.
Dennis Sanchez, a land developer, said he is 100% against new road improvements.
“As a developer, I know that developers pay for the roads upfront in order to sell lots,” Sanchez said. “… And if the city were to try to get into that business, it would lose a lot of money and it would really slow things down.”
He said the current Capital Recovery ordinance provides for 19 zones with six miles. However, he said it is a six-mile circumference circle.
Sanchez said the money generated from each zone is not much, and asked the commission to look at increasing the size from six-mile circumference to radius or diameter and increasing zoning size so more money can be generated to pay for road amplification and improvements.
He said the city should also look at the upfront cost and implementation of the fee program.
Ramiro Martinez, a real estate professional, said the fee is not a great idea.
“What we need is fixing the existing roads,” Martinez said. “Which this is not really going to benefit at all.”
He said the fee will increase property value.
Real estate professional Ramiro Martinez provides his opinion as a resident to Brownsville City Commissioners during the March 5 meeting. “I don’t really think the Capital Recovery Fee is a great idea based on how everything is turning out right now,” Martinez said. Estefania Ramirez/THE RIDER
Martinez said the median price for existing homes based on January statistics is $239,700. For new construction, the median price is $285,000. The average of both is $253,000.
He said December statistics reveal the median price was $246,000, highlighting the increase in prices.
“By you all doing this, I think you all [will] hinder development here,” Martinez said. “They’ll go to the [neighboring] cities, and they’ll start developing over there.”
He said the fee will impact homeownership and the community.
In other business, Dennis Sanchez was appointed as the final member to the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee for the Capital Recovery Fee by District 4 Commissioner Pedro Cardenas.
The city commission recognized National Social Work Month 2024 for the UTRGV School of Social Work.
Present to accept the commission’s proclamation were Lauren Serafy, lecturer I and associate director of the Human Mobility Institute; Jo Redcliffe, associate professor and Master of Science in Social Work program director; and Richard Sanchez, associate vice president for Governmental Relations.
The commission approved all items on the agenda, including an interlocal agreement with UTRGV for a Professional Education and Workforce Development Program.
The program “creates relevant and accessible high-quality education, industry-specific workforce development programs, and immersive English language instruction that meet the learning needs of today’s professionals,” according to the Professional Development Program for managers slideshow.
The “13-week comprehensive training initiative” is tailored for 35 City of Brownsville managers, which will “elevate” their managerial and leadership skills.
The program is scheduled for April 3 through June 5.
The Traffic Controller cabinet art wrap project was approved with a motion by Commissioner At-large “B” Rose Gowen, seconded by De los Santos. The motion passed unanimously.
The art project, in collaboration with the Brownsville Beautification Committee, is seeking artists, including graphic designers, to help beautify traffic control boxes in vinyl-wrapping in each district.
Designers selected will be compensated with a $300 stipend for the design.
Joel Garza, Multimodal Transportation director for the City of Brownsville, presents a slideshow about city staff wanting to extend the public hearing regarding the Capital Recovery Fee to April 2 during the March 5 commission meeting. Estefania Ramirez/THE RIDER
