Edinburg City Council: Development increase, early voting starts

Members of the Edinburg Planning and Zoning Department pose with the Edinburg City Council during Tuesday’s meeting after October was proclaimed Community Planning Month. Shown are Mayor Pro Tem Daniel “Dan” Diaz (from left), Planner 1 Tilfred Farley, Graphics Technician Blanca de la Garza, Planning and Zoning Commission Vice Chairman Elias Longoria, Administrative Assistant Claudia Mariscal, Planner 2 Anaisa Licerio, Councilmember Place 4 David White, Planning and Zoning Assistant Director Rita Lee Guerrero, Planning and Zoning Director Jaime Acevedo, Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr., Planner 1 Marlon Garza, City Forester Leonel Duran, Planner 1 Abel Beltran, Councilmember Place 3 David Salazar Jr., Councilmember Place 2 Jason De Leon and City Manager Myra Ayala. Raquel Cazares/THE RIDER — Members of the Edinburg Planning and Zoning Department pose with the Edinburg City Council during Tuesday’s meeting after October was proclaimed Community Planning Month. Shown are Mayor Pro Tem Daniel “Dan” Diaz (from left), Planner 1 Tilfred Farley, Graphics Technician Blanca de la Garza, Planning and Zoning Commission Vice Chairman Elias Longoria, Administrative Assistant Claudia Mariscal, Planner 2 Anaisa Licerio, Councilmember Place 4 David White, Planning and Zoning Assistant Director Rita Lee Guerrero, Planning and Zoning Director Jaime Acevedo, Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr., Planner 1 Marlon Garza, City Forester Leonel Duran, Planner 1 Abel Beltran, Councilmember Place 3 David Salazar Jr., Councilmember Place 2 Jason De Leon and City Manager Myra Ayala.
**Raquel Cazares/THE RIDER**

Jaime Acevedo, the City of Edinburg’s director of Planning and Zoning, said that 2022 and 2023 were record years for development, but predicts 2024 will finish “strong.”

“We’ve seen a large number of subdivisions come in in the past couple of weeks,” Acevedo told the Edinburg City Council during its meeting Tuesday. “We have recorded here today about 40 plats, which equates to about a thousand lots of development.”

He said there are 35 subdivisions under construction and 109 under review.

During the public comment section, Fern McClaugherty, a member of the Objective Watchers of the Legal System, talked about the upcoming elections and what voters need for Election Day.

“You need your … voter registration card,” McClaugherty said. “Don’t throw them away because those have your precinct number.”

Early voting runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 5.

“The early voting polling locations in Edinburg are the [Hidalgo] County Elections Annex Building, the University of Rio Grande Valley [Student Academic Center] lounge and the Edinburg Conference Center at the Renaissance,” City Secretary Clarice Balderas said.

Balderas said there are 11 proposed amendments to the City of Edinburg’s charter, including Proposition A, which would “revise the process for filling vacancies on the city council to be consistent with the requirements of the Texas Constitution, which requires that vacancies with more than one year be ordered to a special election,” and Proposition K, which would require that the “city appoint a charter review committee to review the City Charter and recommend amendments, if any, every five years during years ending in 0 or 5.”

To learn more about the proposed amendments, visit the City of Edinburg website.

City Secretary Clarice Yvette Balderas tells the Edinburg City Council that proposed amendments to the city charter, which would bring it to Texas standards, will be on the ballot during the Nov. 5 general election. The propositions can be viewed on the city’s website: cityofedinburg.com/departments/city_secretary/2024Propositions.php Raquel Cazares/THE RIDER — City Secretary Clarice Yvette Balderas tells the Edinburg City Council that proposed amendments to the city charter, which would bring it to Texas standards, will be on the ballot during the Nov. 5 general election. The propositions can be viewed on the city’s website: cityofedinburg.com/departments/city_secretary/2024Propositions.php
**Raquel Cazares/THE RIDER**

The City of Edinburg will host the second annual Homestead Exemption workshop from 3 to 7 p.m Oct. 30. at the Edinburg Activity Center, located at 123 Mark S. Peña Drive.

“Personnel from Hidalgo County, the appraisal district, will be in attendance and available to answer any questions about homestead exemptions and assist with the processing of applications,” City Manager Myra Ayala said. “Residents applying for the exemption must provide a valid Texas driver’s license or ID, and the ID address must match the property for which the exemption is being claimed.”

Ayala also invited the public and the council to attend the Fall Brawl boxing event Nov. 2 at the Edinburg Sports and Wellness Center, located at 315 Mark S. Peña Drive. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and the first bout will be at 2 p.m.

“This event will feature 24 amateur boxing bouts … each bout including an Edinburg boxer,” she said. “General admission is $5, and there will be VIP seating available for $10. All proceeds will benefit the Edinburg Cares Food Drive.”

The City of Edinburg will also host Los Muertos Bailan festival, its largest cultural celebration, from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday in downtown Edinburg. Activities will take place between the Museum of South Texas History and Edinburg City Hall.

“This is a vibrant festival that honors the lives and memories of the dearly departed, and this year’s community altar will be dedicated to Chad Dempsey,” Ayala said.

Dempsey was the band director for Edinburg North High School. He died in April.

“This event will feature three stages, a fun zone with dancing horses and a free concert headlined by Sonora Dinamita,” Ayala said. “We would like to encourage everyone to attend.”

The city’s Veterans Day Parade will take place at 10 a.m. Nov. 2, starting at the Richard R. Flores Stadium, located at 1800 S. Stadium Street and Mark S. Peña Drive, and ending at Closner Boulevard and Kuhn Street.

A concert will follow the parade at 5 p.m at the Promenade Park Amphitheater, located at 201 W. McIntyre St., with performances by Las Cuerdas, Sammy Arriaga, the Tejano Legends Pioneers Tribute Band and Los Palominos.

“Veterans and active military personnel, children under 12 and those bringing a $20 value toy for the Blue Santa campaign will enjoy a free entry,” Ayala said. “General admission is $20.”

The council recognized October as Community Planning Month.

“Community planning and plans can help manage change in a way that provides better choices for how people work and live, and whereas community planning provides an opportunity for all residents to be meaningfully involved in making the choices that determine the future of the community,” City Secretary Clarice Balderas said.