Citizen of the Year, Naming of Little League Fields, and More!

Updated: December 7, 2023

Iris Garcia
Special to LFN

On Tuesday, November 21st, the city of Los Fresnos held its regular city council meeting. During the meeting, there were 8 consent agenda items, which are matters considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless requested by a member of the City Council. The item may subsequently be removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately.
All (8) Consent Agenda items were approved unanimously— 5-0, and are listed below:

Consideration and ACTION to approve the minutes from regular meeting October 10, 2023.
Consideration and ACTION to approve the Quarterly Investment Portfolio Report ended as of September 30, 2023.
Consideration and ACTION to approve the first reading of Ordinance 551 amending the Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan Chapter 44-Utilities, Article II.-Water, Division 2, Water Conservation, repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict therewith and providing for an effective date.
Consideration and ACTION to authorize the City Manager to dispose of surplus items.
Consideration and ACTION to approve the preliminary plat of Valle Alto East Commercial Subdivision IV.
Consideration and ACTION to approve the preliminary plat of Dunnco II Los Fresnos Subdivision.
Consideration and ACTION to approve a Resolution voting for a person to serve on Cameron Appraisal District Board of Directors Position 9.
Consideration and ACTION to excuse the absence of Robby Walsdorf from the August 21, 2023 Planning and Zoning meeting.

Following the Consent Agenda, city council covered the (6) Action Items.

Discussion, Consideration, and Action Required under Texas Govt. Code 2254, for the City to provide a Written Statement and Finding of the City’s Need for Specialized Contingent Fee Legal Services for Delinquent Tax Collection Services and Delinquent Municipal Court Fees and Fines Collection Services.
Discussion, Consideration and Possible Action to Award a Contract for Delinquent Tax Collection Services and a Contract for Delinquent Municipal Court Fees and Fines Collection Services to Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.
Councilwoman, Gaby Fernandez, made a motion to approve Action item, which was seconded by Mayor Flores. The motion carried.
Discussion and possible ACTION to choose an individual for 2023 Citizen of the Year Program.
The city council discusses possible candidates. The city manager recommends selecting someone by December to be recognized in January. Mayor Flores asks the council to make a list of people they think have made a big contribution to the city. Council member, Juan Muñoz, nominated Barbara Rodríguez. Mr. Muñoz says, “Barbara Rodriguez has been helping this community for the longest time. She’s a veteran, citizen of Los Fresnos, who dedicates her time to take people to the hospital on her own time. She works with the Housing Authority, and helps at the Baptist Church.” Mr. Flores mentioned that he was thinking of Mr. Manuel Abrego, who was a former mayor and “a big part of this community. Regardless if you agree with some of the stuff he does, or don’t; you can admit that the guy loves this city.”
Commissioner, Albert Escobedo, says that they can all come up with a few names for the next meeting, and decide from there. Mayor Flores motions to table this item. No Action.
Consideration and ACTION to allow the Los Fresnos Little League to name the baseball fields located at the Los Fresnos Community Park.
The city manager informs the council that the Los Fresnos Little League is seeking permission to name the baseball fields at Community Park. He says that naming the fields is long overdue. People have been referring to the fields by different names over the years, like “the West field and East field, the Big field and Little field, the Boys field and Girls field, the Baseball field and Softball field.” The LF Little League’s concept is to hold a forum through social media for people to give suggestions on possible names and bring the names to the city council where they’ll have the final say. Action Item was motioned for approval to allow the LF Little League to look for a name and bring it up to them for a final decision. Motion seconded. Motion carried.
Next on the agenda were Action Items 5 and 6.
Consideration and ACTION to appoint a new member to the Community Development Corporation, Place 6, for an unexpired term.
Consideration and ACTION to appoint a new member to the Community Development Corporation, Place 5, for an unexpired term.

The city manager mentioned the term was set to expire on February 2024, so he recommended the council to appoint someone who would not only serve the next three months (the remainder of the current term) but also the following term. The interested applicants submitted applications prior to the meeting. Mayor Alejandro Flores made a motion to nominate Claudia Villareal by saying, “she will be a great fit for the CDC.” Councilwoman, Gabriela Fernandez, second the motion. Motion carries 3:2, favored to opposed.

Commissioner Luis Gonzalez, interjected saying that he would have liked to have heard the applicant speak first before making the decision.
Mrs. Claudia Villareal is a resident of Los Fresnos, and has been a business owner for the past 2 years. She mentioned she has experienced the support from the city, the Chamber, and the CDC for her business, and would like to serve back to her community by helping other businesses just as the city helped her.
Mr. Gordon Cappon, is currently serving as vice-chairman on the Planning & Zoning Commission for the past 2 years, and would like to continue serving the City of Los Fresnos as a member of the CDC. He brings experience from working with the Texas Department of Human Health Services for over 25 years before he retired. What helped him in his trajectory is that he’s been an effective communicator in various environments— from dealing with administrators, coaches, players at athletics events, to state and federal personnel.

Motion made by Mayor Flores to appoint Mr. Cappon for CDC Place 5. Motion seconded, by Commissioner Escobedo. Motion carried, 4-1.
The next meeting is scheduled to be on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 6 PM.

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