City Commission Approves Veterans Day Proclamation, New Downtown Bar

by Martha E. Ibarra/LFN

The La Feria City Commission held its regularly scheduled city meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the city commission meeting room located at 115 E. Commercial Ave in La Feria.

Mayor Olga Maldonado, following the invocation, pledge, and determining a quorum present, called the meeting to order and immediately opened the floor for public comments.

Maldonado proceeded to bring to the attention of the city manager, Jaime Sandoval, a letter submitted to the commission from Lori Mascorro. In her letter, Mascorro addressed the issue of solid waste management.

“The residential and commercial trash pick-up schedules are not frequent enough to discourage foul odors and overflow of pests and rodents,” stated Mascorro.

Maldonado read the letter in its entirety and then continued with the public comments. Current school board secretary- treasurer, Gloria Santillan- Casas, came before the commission and expressed her concern regarding the recent cancellation of the resident’s opportunity to meet the candidates running in the ongoing school board election.

“We missed a tremendous opportunity for the community to know what moves the heart of the people that are running for these important positions, in my opinion. The opportunity for the community to hear the different candidates was taken away by different issues,” said Casas. She thanked the commission for their attention and the meeting proceeded.

After the approval of the minutes of the previous city meeting (Oct. 11), the commission went on to consider the approval of a resolution of the city of La Feria designating depositary signatories for BBVA Compass Bank. A motion passed approving the resolution.

Next, Sandoval informed the commission of a request made to the city of La Feria by the Rio Grande Valley Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP). The request called for support from the city to issue a Veterans Day Proclamation to honor and recognize veterans for their military service and their volunteer service.

Juan Cedillo, a representative of RSVP and project director, spoke before the commission.

“Our program has been around since 1983. The RSV Program works with 30 communities that consist of 650 retired volunteers and serves the counties of Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy. We want to thank the city of La Feria for today’s Veterans’ Day Proclamation which honors and recognizes all the veterans for their military and volunteer service,” said Cedillo.

Commissioner Eric Hoff made a motion to approve the proclamation and was unanimously supported.

Mayor Pro-Tem, Esmeralda Lozano, proceeded to read the proclamation, which stated, “Now therefore be it resolved that the city of La Feria does hereby proclaim November 11, 2016 as Veterans Day and urge all citizens of La Feria to recognize the valor, sacrifice, service and volunteerism of our veterans through ceremonies and prayers.”

The commission then went on to consider the action regarding the policies and procedures for reservations and authorized use of city-owned buildings for meetings/events, as well as the consideration for action to authorize the cancellation of scheduled events at city-owned buildings during fiscal year 2017. Both items were tabled.

Next, the commission approved a resolution authorizing Jaime Sandoval, city manager, to be La Feria’s authorized representative in all matters pertaining to the city’s participation in the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) HOME Program.

The city commission then approved an ordinance closing certain streets and modifying traffic patterns to ensure the safety of the public during the annual “Lighting of the Tree” celebration being held on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 this year.

Next, Mayor Maldonado declared a public hearing to receive input on a request made by Elmer Capuchines for a specific use of permit to allow the late hours sale of alcoholic beverages until 2:00 AM, seven days a week at The La Feria Hangout Bar located at 105 S. Main Street (inside Los Amigos Restaurant).

Capuchines, as well as Alfredo Gomez, owner of Los Amigos restaurant, addressed the commission and discussed their plan for the bar and the late hours. Gomez informed the commission that the bar would remain open until 2:00 AM, but the restaurant and kitchen would be closed by 10:00 PM.

Esmeralda Lozano, mayor pro- tem, expressed her concerns with the hours and location of the establishment, “I’m just concerned about having a bar downtown that’s not going to serve food to people who could potentially be drinking till two and it’s the middle of the business district. There are homes around there and there is going to be nothing to temper possible alcoholism and drunk driving. I’m not sure that I like the extension of the hours.”

Capuchines and Gomez went on addressing the concerns of the commission before the public hearing was closed.“I don’t have a problem with it because I know they will be regulated,” said Commissioner Julian Guevara, Jr.

The commission then considered and approved a motion allowing the late hours of sale of alcoholic beverages until 2:00 AM, seven days a week.

Before the meeting was adjourned, the commission went into closed executive session where they remained for an hour and a half. Upon their return there was no action taken on any of the items discussed.

The next city meeting, which is open to the public, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room at 115 E. Commercial Avenue, La Feria, TX.