- Call meeting to order — 00:01:09
The Mayor officially called the Dilley City Council regular meeting on July 8, 2025, to order at 6:34 p.m. - Roll Call — 00:01:13
During the roll call, Mayor Alexandria Martinez-Inocencio, Councilmen Everardo Castillo, Jr., Eric Aranda, Alicia Machado, Ray Aranda, and Rudy Alvarez, along with City Secretary Natasha Prado and City Administrator Henry Arredondo, were all confirmed present, with no absences recorded. - Pledges of Allegiance to the United States and Texas Flags — 00:01:55
- Invocation — 00:02:32
City Administrator Henry Arredondo led the Invocation. - Citizens to be heard — 00:03:22
County Road 3808 resident Griselda Saucedo spoke about unresolved water leaks in her area and urged the council, ahead of discussion on Item 16, to consider the danger of aggressive dogs—especially to children, elderly people, and those with special needs—when determining what qualifies as an emergency. “How would you feel if an aggressive dog was chasing your special needs child, your elder parent?” she asked. - Consent agenda: Discuss/consider & act on the following item(s) —
A. Approve minutes of the July 8, 2025- Regular Meeting — 00:05:32
B. Review of City Bills — 00:07:30
C. Approve employee incentives for the month of June 2025 — 00:06:05
The council approved the June 10, 2025 meeting minutes and city bills after discussion focused largely on specific expenses. Councilwoman Alicia Machado questioned charges for portable toilets at graduation, repairs to the police department’s front door, multiple Xerox leases, and differences between postage meter and post office payments. City staff explained each expense, noting the porta-potties served as backups when restrooms failed, the Xerox leases cover different machines, and certain mailings require special rates. After clarification, the bills were approved unanimously. No employee incentives were issued for June. - Department Reports — (submitted for informational purposes only) — 00:14:43
7.A. Library Report — 00:14:53
7.B. Court Report — 00:16:42
7.C. City Secretary Report — 00:18:22
7.D. City Administrator Report (oral) — 00:19:35
7.E. Police Department Report — 00:24:26
7.F. Public Works Department Report — 00:26:53
7.G. Fire Department Report — 00:28:45
7.H. Engineering Report — 00:29:42 - Special Announcement — 003:1:31
The city swore in four new police officers and honored six first responders with Life Saving Awards for their swift actions on June 24, 2025, which saved the life of a man in critical condition after a suicide attempt. - Discuss/consider & act on Gas Utility rates presentation by Jeff Snowden — 01:38:48
The Dilley City Council spent a long time talking about the future of the city’s natural gas system after hearing a presentation from utility consultant Jeff Snowden. His report showed that while commercial gas accounts have stayed about the same, the number of residential customers inside city limits has dropped from 340 in 2010 to 226 this year. Even so, the city is still buying about the same amount of gas. That means a lot of gas is going somewhere without being billed, which could be from faulty meters or people getting gas without paying. Snowden said that if the city could identify those customers who are receiving gas service but not being billed for it—and then start billing them properly—it could bring in about $62,000 more a year.
Even with that extra $62,000 a year, the gas system would still be running at a loss. The additional revenue would help reduce the shortfall but would not be enough to make the system self-sustaining without other changes.
Councilman Rudy Alvarez pointed out another major problem: the city’s 27 miles of gas lines are around 70 years old (according to him), and the state is pressuring the city to replace them. He estimated it could cost around $1 million per mile. Alvarez said that even if the city followed Snowden’s plan to raise rates by about 50% over the next four or five years, they would still be losing money every year. “I would call this a very impossible situation,” he said.
The council also talked about the failed public vote to sell the gas system and whether to try again. They discussed how much the city could legally do to explain the situation to voters and what information should be shared. Some talked about telling residents that if the city couldn’t sell the system, it might have to shut it down.
No decision was made about holding another election, but the council did vote to move forward with Snowden’s plan to raise rates. Several members said this would not fix the problem but could give the city more time to decide whether to repair, sell, or close the gas system.
Motion: Approve the utility rate presentation as presented by Jeff Snowden — Councilman Ray Aranda
Second: Councilman Everardo Castillo Jr.
Vote: All in favor, none opposed — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act Employee Health Insurance Coverage for the upcoming year presented by Hector Villareal — 00:39:35
Council approved renewing the city’s employee health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s platinum plan at a roughly 10% rate increase, with no changes to dental, vision, life, or disability coverage. - Discuss/Consider & act on a Resolution authorizing the resubmission of an application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a grant for park improvements — 1:09:17
The July council meeting took a tense turn when the discussion shifted to Item 11: whether to resubmit an application to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for a $750,000 grant to improve Dilley’s “back park.”
City Administrator Henry Arredondo said the city had until August 1 to reapply using a five-year-old park master plan set to expire in October. Earlier this summer, he met with Parks & Wildlife officials in New Braunfels, who encouraged Dilley to try again. The proposal would use the same plan recently submitted to the Office of the Congressman, giving the city a second shot at funding. The grantwriter from the last application already had the materials ready to meet the deadline.
Some council members pushed back. Councilman Rudy Alvarez argued they had previously agreed to select a grant writer or consultant before pursuing applications, and questioned whether it was fair to have the grantwriter prepare the bid without a commitment to keep him if the grant was awarded. Councilman Ray Aranda added that the city applies for grants too late, leaving “no cushion” for proper planning.
The grantwriter told council that “Texas Parks and Wildlife is perhaps the only agency that doesn’t require a prior selection of the grant writer to prepare and submit the application” and called their recent meeting with the agency “very, very fruitful.”
Councilman Eric Aranda moved to approve resubmitting the application, but the motion never got a second. Without that, the proposal died. Alvarez then tried to make a formal motion to “take no action,” sparking a brief procedural debate with fill-in City Attorney Austin Beck before the mayor closed the discussion.
The decision means the current master plan will expire unused, and any future attempt will require an updated — and potentially costly — plan. As Arredondo put it, “I was just trying to be efficient and get something in quick.”
Motion: Resubmit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department grant application for $750,000 in park improvements — Councilman Eric Aranda
Second: None
Vote: No second — Motion dies - Discuss/Consider & act on the City of Dilley’s opportunity to participate in the resilient Communities Program (RCP) of the Texas General Land Office, and to apply for a 100% RCP grant for planning services — 01:32:58
Immediately after the failed park grant vote, council moved to Item 12 — the city’s opportunity to apply for a $300,000 Resilient Communities Program grant from the Texas General Land Office. City Administrator Henry Arredondo explained the planning-focused grant was first-come, first-served and could fund projects like updating decades-old zoning ordinances, mapping utility systems, and preparing capital improvement plans.
Councilman Rudy Alvarez, echoing earlier concerns, dismissed planning grants as “useless.” But Arredondo argued the funding could strengthen the city’s water and sewer systems and help Dilley prepare for future infrastructure needs without locking into a specific contractor.
Motion: Apply for the Texas General Land Office Resilient Communities Program $300,000 planning grant — Councilman Eric Aranda
Second: Councilwoman Alicia Machado
Vote: 4-1 in favor, Councilman Rudy Alvarez opposed — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act on authorizing the solicitation of planning services for participating in the Resilient Communities Program of the Texas General Land Office — 02:21:40
Councilman Rudy Alvarez again voiced skepticism toward planning efforts and denied support to the third grant item of the night, saying he had “lived through at least three comprehensive plans” and doubted their usefulness without guaranteed capital funding. Still, the council moved forward.
Motion: Authorize solicitation of planning services for the Texas General Land Office Resilient Communities Program — Councilman Ray Aranda
Second: Councilman Eric Aranda
Vote: 4–1 in favor, Councilman Rudy Alvarez opposed — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act on nomination for Regional Seats on TML Board of Directors — 02:23:59
Council heard details on upcoming Texas Municipal League Board of Directors regional seat openings, but with no council members expressing interest in serving, no action was taken. - Discuss/Consider & act on City of Dilley Park Improvements — 02:27:29
Council voted unanimously to authorize seeking formal bids for a concrete walking trail at Pavilion Park, following a consultant’s recommendation that it was the most durable and cost-effective option.
Motion: Authorize consultants to seek formal bids for a concrete walking trail at Pavilion Park — Councilman Rudy Alvarez
Second: Councilman Everardo Castillo Jr.
Vote: 5-0 — Motion passes - Discuss/consider & act on City of Dilley Interlocal agreement with Frio County for Animal Control — 02:44:12
The council took up Item 16 — an interlocal agreement with Frio County for animal control services — with Mayor Alexandria Martinez-Inocencio noting prior discussions with Commissioner Danny Cano and introducing Animal Control Officer Omar Hernandez to provide details.
City Administrator Henry Arredondo explained that the county has no animal control officer and past agreements were never honored — the last contract set fees at just $1 per year, which the county never paid. Hernandez described capacity limits at the city’s kennels, saying the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) area is nearly twice the size of Dilley and that handling calls there would require more staff, equipment, and space. He and Police Chief Steven Hernandez proposed a new fee structure: a $5,000 annual charge to the county for ETJ services, plus $50 per impound, $20 per day for housing, $40 disposal fees per animal, and additional charges for vet costs.
Council members debated whether those amounts were sufficient, suggesting higher base fees, on-call service charges, and strict limits to dogs and cats. They also discussed ensuring the county helps fund facility expansion and covers added staffing. Hernandez recounted that the city had occasionally responded to urgent incidents in the county — such as severe dog attacks — with prior approval and was reimbursed for those cases.
Motion: Direct the city administrator, working with Animal Control Officer Omar Hernandez, to prepare a complete proposal for the interlocal agreement with Frio County for animal control services and present it to council for approval — Councilman Eric Aranda
Second: Councilwoman Alicia Machado
Vote: 5-0 — Motion passes - Discuss/consider & act on 3rd Quarter ending June 30, 2025 Financial Statements — 03:07:12
Motion: Approve the financial statement for the quarter ending June 30, 2025 — Councilman Rudy Alvarez
Second: Councilwoman Alicia Machado
Vote: 5-0 — Motion passes - Discuss/consider & act on 3rd Quarter ending June 30, 2025 Investment Report — 03:10:16
Motion: Accept the quarterly report ending June 30, 2025 — Councilwoman Alicia Machado
Second: Councilman Eric Aranda
Vote: 5-0 — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act on Ordinance No. 25-08-07, an ordinance by the City of Dilley, Texas amending the adopted budget for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024 & establishing an effective date — 03:11:36
Motion: Approve Ordinance No. 25-8-7 amending the adopted budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and establishing an effective date — Councilman Ray Aranda
Second: Councilman Everardo Castillo Jr.
Vote: 4–1 in favor, Councilman Rudy Alvarez opposed — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act on Xerox pricing proposal for City Hall — 00:54:41
The City Council discussed a Xerox proposal to lease a new printer for City Hall’s back office, citing ongoing problems with the current machine; although some members questioned the timing in light of a recent contract renewal and suggested seeking future competitive bids, the council ultimately approved the lease, which includes maintenance and supplies.
Motion: Accept the Xerox pricing proposal for City Hall’s back office — Councilman Eric Aranda
Second: Councilman Everardo Castillo Jr.
Vote: 4 in favor; Councilman Rudy Alvarez absent for vote — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act the New TMRS Contribution Rate 2026 — 03:15:53
The council unanimously approved the 2026 TMRS city contribution rate of 8.39%, a slight change from last year’s rate.
Motion: Approve the 2026 TMRS city contribution rate of 8.39% — Councilman Rudy Alvarez
Second: Councilman Ray Aranda
Vote: 5-0 — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act on Planning Calendar for FY 2025-2026 Budget and Tax Rate — 03:16:50
The council approved the planning calendar for the 2025–2026 budget and tax rate process, aligning with required public hearing and notice deadlines.
Motion: Approve the planning calendar for the 2025–2026 budget and tax rate process — Councilwoman Alicia Machado
Second: Councilman Everardo Castillo Jr.
Vote: 5-0 — Motion passes - Discuss/Consider & act on Capital Improvement Plan FY 2025-2026 — 03:19:39
The council reviewed the proposed 2025–2026 Capital Improvement Plan, which City Administrator Henry Arredondo described as a working document for members to take home, review, and suggest changes. Arredondo noted the five-year plan’s total has decreased from $18 million last year to $10 million, reflecting completed funding approvals for major projects such as the sewer treatment plant at the prison, a $2.1 million grant, and $500,000 in water treatment plant improvements. He emphasized that remaining items, like potential police vehicle purchases, would rely on securing grants or other funding sources to avoid new debt. No action was taken. - Adjournment — 03:21:56
Motion: Adjourn the meeting — Councilman Ray Aranda
Second: [Speaker not identified]
Vote: 5-0 — Motion passes
–written by Jose Asuncion, with a suspicious amount of help from ChatGPT