First reading of proposed Master Fee Schedule approved

Rubi Salinas, program coordinator for the Children’s Bereavement Center - Rio Grande Valley, holds a proclamation given by the Brownsville City Commission on Tuesday in the Brownsville City Hall. The proclamation recognizes November as Children’s Grief Awareness Month.
Venisha Colón/THE RIDER — Rubi Salinas, program coordinator for the Children’s Bereavement Center – Rio Grande Valley, holds a proclamation given by the Brownsville City Commission on Tuesday in the Brownsville City Hall. The proclamation recognizes November as Children’s Grief Awareness Month.
**Venisha Colón/THE RIDER**

The Brownsville City Commission on Nov. 12 approved the first reading of the proposed Master Fee Schedule, adopted a policy prohibiting the use of TikTok and other social media platforms on city devices and proclaimed November as Children’s Grief Awareness Month.

After the public hearing on the fee schedule, members of the commission passed the first reading of the proposal in a 5-0 vote.

Miguel Cavazos, budget officer and accountant III for Financial Services, said departments, such as Brownsville Fire/Emergency Medical Services; Parks and Recreation; Health, Wellness and Animal Services; and Planning and Redevelopment Services, proposed updates to their service fees.

Fees are proposed for ambulance services, increases in spay and neuter fees and a reduction in the animal adoption fee, and a $50 vendor fee for First Friday participants who do not have a business in Downtown Brownsville, according to the presentation.

The Rider reached out to Manuel Chacon, director of communications and marketing, regarding clarification for proposed fees to ambulance services but emails were not returned.

For animal adoption services, the proposed fee is $49, lowered from $99. Spay and neuter fees are proposed to increase depending on weight, such as $85 for female dogs under 30 pounds and $75 for male dogs under 40 pounds.

The vendor fee will “support First Friday initiatives and help cover overhead costs all while supporting local Downtown businesses,” according to the presentation.

Miguel Cavazos, budget officer and accountant III for the Financial Services department, discusses proposed updates to the Master Fee Schedule for the City of Brownsville during Tuesday’s city commission meeting. Venisha Colón/THE RIDER — Miguel Cavazos, budget officer and accountant III for the Financial Services department, discusses proposed updates to the Master Fee Schedule for the City of Brownsville during Tuesday’s city commission meeting.
**Venisha Colón/THE RIDER**

Proposed landfill fees include an incremental increase of “4% each year over a 5-year timeframe for all landfill fees as recommended by the City of Brownsville FY2025 Revenue Sufficiency Analysis.” Currently,

Commissioner At-large “A” Tino Villarreal asked what fees are proposed for the Sports Park.

Cavazos clarified some of the proposed fees include the rental of softball and baseball fields, tournament fees and rental for artificial turf fields. The proposed multisport fields complex rental fee is $50 for residents and $60 for nonresidents.

For the full list of proposed fees in the Master Fee Schedule, visit the city’s website.

Villarreal asked if the reduced rate for nonprofits applied to departments also applies to the Sports Park.

Deputy City Manager Alan Guard said the schedule can be amended to apply to the park.

Commissioner At-large “B” Rose Gowen motioned to approve the first reading and District 1 Commissioner Bryan Martinez seconded. Villarreal proposed to include the reduced fee for nonprofits wanting to use the Sports Park.

City Manager Helen Ramirez said the commission will discuss again if any changes to the discount will be made.

The motion passed unanimously.

City Commissioner At-Large “A” Tino Villarreal proposes an amendment during Tuesday’s Brownsville City Commission meeting. The amendment would include the Brownsville Sports Park under the nonprofit category for the Parks and Recreation Department Proposed Fee Schedule changes.
Venisha Colón/THE RIDER — City Commissioner At-Large “A” Tino Villarreal proposes an amendment during Tuesday’s Brownsville City Commission meeting. The amendment would include the Brownsville Sports Park under the nonprofit category for the Parks and Recreation Department Proposed Fee Schedule changes.
**Venisha Colón/THE RIDER**

The commission also proclaimed Nov. 21 as Children’s Grief Awareness Month and Day. The proclamation was accepted by Rubi Salinas, program coordinator for Children’s Bereavement Center-Rio Grande Valley.

Approved as a consent agenda item, the city adopted a resolution to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of TikTok and other social media platforms and services on city devices.

The policy is in abidance with Senate Bill 1893, a Texas law signed Sept. 1, 2023.

The law requires governmental entities to adopt a policy to prohibit the “installation of TikTok or another covered application on any device owned or leased by the governmental entity” and requires “the removal of covered applications from those devices,” according to the memorandum from City Attorney Will Treviño and Jorge Cardenas, Enterprise Applications director.

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