Unger Park Project Stalled As Commission Reviews Bids

Commissioner Esmeralda Lozano Elected Mayor Pro-Tem

The La Feria City Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 26th at 6:30 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room in La Feria, TX. Commissioner John Betancourt presided over the Invocation and after an observance of the pledge Mayor Pro-Tem Esmeralda Lozano called the meeting to order. Mayor Victor Gonzalez was not in attendance.

The floor was opened up to public comments but there were no community members present, so the forum was closed. Following that, the minutes of the past meeting were approved by the commission.

The next agenda item to be considered was a review of bid tabulation for the contract for the Unger Park Project.

The upgrade to Unger Park, located at 330 S. West St. in La Feria, is partially funded by a $100,000 grant from Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife which was awarded in 2013 and will be matched by the city of La Feria.

The park itself was part of three park areas originally designated in the 1915 town site map but was never developed. Later, in 1972, it was dedicated, but never fully developed or maintained.

A.A. Unger was Municipal Court Judge and City Secretary of La Feria from March 16, 1964 to December 23, 1971. Since there was no City Manager at the time, he was the City Administrator, though not by title.

After careful consideration by city staff and architectural firm Megamorphosis, Inc. of Harlingen, the “lowest most qualified and responsible bidder” to undertake the Unger Park Project was identified as Northridge Designs.

John Pearcy of Megamorphosis presented the plans for the proposed project for commissioners, outlining the features that would be included in the park’s revitalization.

Among the features of the new park, there would be a small soccer practice field, a covered picnic area as well as two more uncovered picnic tables, a basketball court with fencing, playground equipment, a central water spray feature, a volleyball court, exercise equipment, a horseshoe area, a shuffleboard court, benches, barbecue pits and a trail. Solar powered security lights would provide adequate lighting at night.

After Pearcy’s presentation, a representative of Northridge Designs addressed the commission with information on their company’s background and past projects. Though Northridge had never undertaken a park project, they felt confident that they’d be able to complete the project under budget and well within the timeframe required.

Commissioner Lozano expressed apprehension at the idea of awarding the contract, citing inexperience in the vetting process and a desire to better understand the qualifications that were used to consider the final bid selection before approving the final bidder. She was supported in her uncertainty by Commissioners Maldonado and Guevara.

Commissioner John Hernandez expressed his disappointment at the dubiousness of the junior commissioners, explaining that an attempt to “micro-manage” the functions of the city staff in these types of processes would only hinder the speed at which projects could be completed.
The Unger Park Project bid award was not appoved and instead tabled until the next commission meeting which will be held June 9th.

The next agenda item to be considered was a public hearing to receive input from the public regardign a request for the replat of Lot 5, Block 2, Lobitas Estates Subdivision and a .50 acre tract of land out of a 46.46 acre tract of the east 1/2 of Block 1, E.E. Evans Subdivision, in La Feria. The floor was open to public input, but was closed soon after since there was no one from the community present to present any input. The commission approved the replat unanimously.

Next a voluntary annexation requested by the property owner of 9.710 acres of property into the city limits of La Feria was considered. This property belongs to the Shrine Club and is part of land to be used to install a large community electronic sign. The commission voted unanimously to approve the annexation.

Finally the commission approved a resolution electing a Mayor Pro-Tempore for the city of La Feria for 2015-2016.

A common use of pro tempore in the United States is in municipalities such as cities and towns with regard to the position of the mayor. Some cities do not have a position of vice mayor, but rather appoint a person from the city council to act as mayor pro tem in the absence of the actual mayor.

Commissioner Guevara expressed satisfaction in the job Commissioner Lozano had performed as Mayor Pro Tem since her election in 2014 and nominated her to remain in the position. The nomination was unchallenged and voted on unanimously by the Commission.

The next meeting of the La Feria City Commission will be held June 9th at the City Commission Meeting Room, 115 E. Commercial Ave., La Feria. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:20 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.