City Commission Considers Possible Bus Route Changes, Appoints Two New Members to Industrial Development Corporation Board

The La Feria City Commission held their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd. Among the agenda items for the evening was a presentation by Harlingen/San Benito Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), acceptance of the 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, and approval of a resolution appointing two new members to the La Feria Industrial Development Corporation Board.

A representative of the Harlingen/San Benito MPO came before the board to discuss possible service changes for Routes 44 and 45 based on data collected in a transportation report from a Seattle, Washington firm. At present the routes serve to connect La Feria, Santa Rosa and Primera to Harlingen. The MPO is suggesting a switch to “on-demand” bus service instead of running regular routes. “On-demand” service would require bus riders to make arrangements 24 hours in advance for pickup. Mayor Steve Brewer then asked the representative if the change would reflect bus service offered a few years ago and stressed that any changes made would need to represent a step forward for the communities served, not a step back.

“Rural transportation is an extremely important issue,” Brewer said and stressed that the Commission wasn’t interested in changing the system in place at present unless the changes were additions to the service already provided.

The MPO representatives stressed that changes would not go into effect until all the participating cities were given an opportunity to hear about the proposed changes and were all in agreement. The MPO is to present their recommendations to the Development Council in a public meeting scheduled for May 8th.
Next the Commission was presented with the City of La Feria Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012. The latest report marks the ninth year that the city has produced annual financial reports. The report will be available to the public this week at their website, www.cityoflaferia.com.

The Commission also reviewed bids for HOME project 1001442, awarding the contract to the lowest bidder and authorizing a recertification of a Texas Home Investment Partnerships Program, authorizing the City Manager to act as the city’s Executive Officer and authorized representative in the Home Program Reservation System.
The La Feria City Commission then approved a resolution appointing two new members to the La Feria Industrial Development Corporation Board. The two new members are Candace Guillen and Lloyd Betts.

The Commission also approved an ordinance adopting a Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan to promote responsible use of water and to establish criteria for the initiation and termination of drought response stages including restrictions and providing for penalties, severability and a date for implementation.

Finally, the Commission was presented with monthly financial reports for March before going into closed session.

The next meeting for the La Feria City Commission will be held Tuesday, May 14th, in the City Commission Meeting Room , 115 E. Commercial Avenue La Feria ,Tx. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm.