CITY OF DEL RIO, TEXAS SAN FELIPE CREEK MASTER PLAN COMMISSION MEETING Conference Hall Conference Room City Hall 109 West Broadway April 24, 2008 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER Economic Development Director Jackie Robinson called the San Felipe Creek Master Plan Commission Meeting to order on the above date at 12:05 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Mayor/Chairman Efrain Valdez Commissioner Sally Anne Finkelstein Commissioner Eduardo Castaneda Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez Absent: Commissioner Jane Morain and Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda Others present: Monique Vernon, Jackie Robinson, Ben Rivera, Dan Foley, Sylvia S. Cardona III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 24, 2008 Economic Development Director Jackie Robinson asked the Commission if everyone had the opportunity to read the minutes and if there were any changes. There were several corrections as listed below: Section VII: Commissioner Finkelstein stated that if we do not take the black top off, then we need to have a catch bit pond for the run off from that parking lot before it hits the Creek. Section IV: The use of dye is on the cane not on the cedar. During a meeting with the Wildlife and Parks Service, it was discussed that they were thinking of using a lot of the 57 miles of the Devils River land to designate it as critical habitat. There was discussion regarding the pros and cons. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez stated speaking with a Real Estate person that discussed the effects should they decide to designate many of the 57 miles of the Devils River as critical habitat.
There was a correction in the spelling of menial to minnow. Commissioner Sally Anne Finkelstein stated that the use of the dye is to mark and help to cut the cedar and when they cut the cane so that they can see which ones to put the herbicide on because it is coming back. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez stated that he had spoken to people who stated the dye could be used. Commissioner Rodriguez further confirmed with Ben Rivera, Superintendent for Parks and Recreation. Ben Rivera stated that he has a team of workers that are cutting and a team of workers that are applying the herbicide so that there is no confusion. The purpose of the dye is so that you do not miss which ones have the herbicide. Jackie Robinson asked if the Commission wanted to table the minutes and approve them at the next Meeting so that the City Secretary s office could make the corrections or if the Commission wanted to approve them as they are with corrections. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez stated that if corrections are made there should be no reason to delay. Commissioner Eduardo Castaneda moved to approve the minutes of March 6, 2008. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez seconded the motion. The minutes were approved with corrections as listed above. MOTION PASSED The vote was 4-0 Jackie Robinson, Director of Economic Development read a letter from Maria Sorola addressed to the Honorable Mayor Valdez, which read as follows: This letter is to inform you that I will be unable to fulfill my term as Commissioner of the San Felipe Creek Association, my best wishes accompany this letter and hope that a healthy San Felipe Creek Eco System is always the top priority of this Organization. Respectfully, Maria Sorola Jackie Robinson asked the Commission for a motion to accept Maria Sololá s letter of resignation. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda moved to approve the letter of resignation from Maria Sorola. Commissioner Sally Anne Finkelstein seconded the motion. The letter of resignation was accepted. MOTION PASSED. The vote was 4-0. Jackie Robinson announced that on the next City Council Meeting on May 13, 2008 an agenda item would be submitted for approval of the replacement of Commissioner Alfredo Gutierrez with Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez, the replacement of Commissioner Maria Sorola with Dr. Dan Foley. Dr. Dan Foley will submit a letter to accompany the request. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked if the changes were to finish the unexpired term. Jackie Robinson confirmed. 2
IV. DISCUSS VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK Monique Vernon, Assistant City Manager, reported that the City of Del Rio had made plans to conduct the survey with a discounted rate of $800.00 for the survey. Abner Martinez, from Amistad Consultants, has already started to conduct the survey. The only item needed is the actual budget. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez asked how many months before the grand reunion for this park. Monique Vernon stated that the reunion would take place at the Star Park on May 23, 2008. She further stated that the Historical Commission has been asked and that the Historical Marker would be placed there since the Star Park was dedicated to Veterans. A planning meeting was held on April 23, 2008 and invitations will be sent out on April 25, 2008. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez stated that there is no reason to rush this survey, since it would not be done on time anyway. Jackie Robinson stated that the next step to prepare for the Veterans Memorial Park is the budget. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked how long it would be before the survey is done. Monique Vernon stated that Abner Martinez is aware that the City of Del Rio wanted the survey expedited. Jackie Robinson stated that once the survey was complete then the budget would be prepared. Janice Pokrant from Plan/Code Compliance stated that Abner Martinez from Amistad Consultant has already started the preliminary work and will do it as soon as possible. V. APPROVE VISION PLAN Jackie Robinson stated that during the last San Felipe Creek Master Plan Meeting the Mayor informed the Commission that any changes to the Vision Plan needed to be submitted by March 20, 2008. No changes have been received and it appears that there are no recommendations. Jackie Robinson further stated that since the Commission has decided to move forward, it will go before the City Council on May 13, 2008 for approval. This is to adopt it as a Vision Plan not the San Felipe Creek Master Plan. The next step is for the Commission to do a Request for Qualifications for an Engineering Study of the San Felipe Creek. Once the consultants begin to submit their RFQ s (Request for Qualifications) the Vision Plan adopted by the City Council will be used as a reference for them to get more of an understanding of the history and the vision of the Commissioners. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez asked what the Engineers are going to do. Jackie Robinson stated that the Engineers would assess land use around the Creek, take into consideration the endangered species and discuss protecting our water source. This survey is similar to an article of the development of Seguin. The article will provide an understanding and a full vision of where this program should be in 20 years. Jackie Robinson continued to state that, when the Consultants are selected the goal, is for them to work with the Commissioners in work-studies or in work groups for input in the overall direction of the Vision Plan. Dan Foley asked how much of the Creek would be assessed. Jackie Robinson responded that the entire Creek would be assessed starting from the Unlow Estates by Laughlin Air Force Base all the way down. One of the issues that have been brought up in the past is that there are no plans of development in that area or plans of protecting it, other than our water source. We must have a vision on what we want to do for land use. 3
Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked for the length of time the assessment would take. Jackie Robinson stated that she was unsure as to the length of time. She further stated that staff has been asked to submit a Request for Qualifications that would be going before the City Council next month. A meeting with the City Manager will take place in the next couple of weeks for the review of the Request for Qualifications. Next, the Request for Qualifications are open for a month and then there is a review process once the RFQ s are submitted. Jackie Robinson stated that the process will be very similar to the Main Street Program, which included a public hearing or town hall meeting for Citizen s comments and ideas. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked if the public hearing would take place prior to meeting with the Commissioners. Jackie Robinson responded that the usual process is to meet with the Commissioners but that the meeting would be opened to the public. Janice Pokrant stated that basically it would be an implementation of the Vision Plan. Jackie Robinson continued by stating that the Consultants would take the Commissioners recommendations and the Vision Plan as a document to create the Ordinances and the land use around the Creek. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked if the Commission s ideas looked good. She also asked if the Consultants could make changes. Jackie Robinson responded that the process is that of a partnership between the Commissioners and the Consultants for recommendations. Consultants from different areas, who are interested, have called. Several of the Consultants were raised in Del Rio but are now working in San Antonio and in different areas of South Texas. Ultimately, the final recommended plan will go before City Council for approval; therefore, there will be numerous opportunities to express viewpoints. The Vision Plan will be going before City Council on May 13, 2008. Jackie Robinson asked the Commission for a motion to approve the Vision Plan. Commissioner Sally Anne Finkelstein moved to approve the Vision Plan. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED The vote was 4-0 VI. OLD BUSINESS Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked regarding the Commissioner s terms and whether the people filling in the position would be finishing the term or starting new. Commissioner Sally Anne Finkelstein stated that her appointment started new. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez replaced Dr. Alfredo Gutierrez s unexpired term. There was further discussion regarding positions appointed, reappointed and confirmations of expiration dates. VII. NEW BUSINESS Jackie Robinson stated that Mayor Valdez was unable to be present because he was campaigning. Commissioner Gilbert Rodriguez asked about the outcome of the City Wide Cleanup. Jackie Robinson responded that the City Wide Cleanup had gone well 4
and stated that there were 250 volunteers. She also stated that there was a group of volunteers that registered at the Greenwood Park that went to the Creek. The group of volunteers brought their raft from home and floated down the Creek pulling trash. There was also a group of Scuba Divers down at the Blue Hole Moore Park. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked if there was something happening at the Creek since the water was murky green. Ben Rivera, from Parks and Recreation, stated that the Union Pacific Police contacted him and informed him that kids had created a dam on the Creek. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda stated that she had brought that concern up some time ago. Ben Rivera continued to state that Frances Rodriguez, City Manager, gave the okay to work with Union Pacific to remove the rocks so that the kids would not build again. The removing of the rocks is stirring up the sediments. Commissioner Sally Anne Finkelstein stated that during the City Wide Cleanup, she assumed one of the pickup sites was the parking lot at the Brown Plaza. On Monday evening, someone drove to the parking lot and dumped trash including tires. There was further discussion regarding trash in other areas. Monique Vernon, Assistant City Manager, stated that the trash was being picked up daily. The pick up ended the second week of the month and people have continued to dump trash. There were two trucks full by Monday night and by Tuesday morning there was an additional two trucks full. On Tuesday night there were thirty tires. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda asked if branches can be picked up. Monique Vernon stated that Moore Services picks up the branches and they should be called. Commissioner Mary Ann Zepeda stated that branches in her area have been there for about two months and that Moore Service only picks up across the street. There is an alley that can be used so that the branches are accessible for pick up. Monique Vernon suggested that calls continue to be made to Moore Services. Jackie Robinson asked how many tons of trash had been picked up during the City Wide Cleanup. Monique Vernon stated that there were a total of 14.2 tons of trash picked up on Saturday, the day of the Clean up but as of today, trash is still being picked up. Janice Pokrant stated that business owners were thankful that trash had been picked up at their sites. Jackie Robinson welcomed everyone to attend the May 13, 2008 City Council Meeting. During this meeting the Vision Plan will be on the agenda for the approval of Council. Jackie Robinson further stated that she did not know if Frances Rodriguez, the City Manager, wanted a presentation. Monique Vernon, Assistant City Manager, stated that a packet should be attached to the Resolution and that someone should be present should there be any questions. VIII. SCHEDULE NEXT MEETING The meeting was scheduled for May 29, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. 5
IX. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, Economic Development Director Jackie Robinson adjourned the meeting at 12:30 p.m. Jackie Robinson, Economic Development Director Sylvia Solis Cardona, Deputy City Secretary 6