City Meeting: Approval of Emergency Repairs and More

Updated: March 27, 2025

Iris Garcia

Special to LFN

On Tuesday, March 11th, the city of Los Fresnos held its monthly regular city council meeting. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Flores, who led the meeting in an invocation. The mayor and four of the commissioners were present.

No visitor remarks were made during this meeting,

The council considered (10) 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 Consent Agenda items were motioned for approval and seconded. Motion carried unanimously, and are listed below:

1. Consideration and ACTION to approve the minutes from February 11, 2025.

2. Consideration and ACTION to approve the second reading of ordinance No. 565 to rezone the proposed Centaurus subdivision located at Espiritu Santo Grant Share 12 69.91 ACS out of 76.11 tr v-1 & trx-1 in the City of Los Fresnos, Texas from AG-Agricultural District to R-1 Single Family District for Block 1 through Block 8 and Block 9 to C-2 General Commercial District of the proposed Centaurus subdivision amending the official zoning map to reflect the new zoning; and providing an effective date for the implementation of this ordinance.

3. Consideration and ACTION to approve a Proclamation declaring April as Fair Housing Month in the City of Los Fresnos.

4. Consideration and ACTION to approve a Proclamation declaring April 6-12, 2025 as National Library Week in the City of Los Fresnos.

5. Consideration and ACTION to approve a Proclamation declaring April 15-19, 2025 as National Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week in the City of Los Fresnos.

6. Consideration and ACTION to approve the action taken by Los Fresnos Community Development Board on funding the Earth Day event on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

7. Consideration and ACTION to approve the Community Development Corporations action for upgrades to the parking areas at the Community Park and Memorial Park.

8. Consideration and ACTION to excuse the absence of Luis Gonzalez from the February 11, 2025 City Council meeting.

9. Consideration and ACTION to excuse the absence of Leo Casanova from the February 3, 2025 CDC meeting.

10. Consideration and ACTION to excuse the absence of Jacob Wasonga from the February 24, 2025 Planning and Zoning meeting.

Following the consent agenda, the city council covered the (6) Action Items.

1. Consideration and ACTION to approve a petition to be released from the Los Fresnos Extraterritorial Jurisdiction by a landowner with property located on Kretz Rd.

City manager explained, “this is allowed by the State, as long as they follow the guidelines, the City has to release the property from the ETJ.” He recommended approval.

Commissioner Escobedo made a motion to approve, and seconded by Commissioner Fernandez. Motion carried, 5-0.

2. Consideration and ACTION to approve the first and second reading of an ordinance releasing property from the city’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.

Commissioner Fernandez made a motion to approve, and seconded by Commissioner Muñoz. Motion carried, 5-0.

3. Consideration and ACTION to approve the 2023-2024 Audit Report.

City manager shared, “The project is done. Looks good, and it’s another step in the direction of providing more sidewalks to our community.”

The auditor reported the findings of the 2023-2034 audit. He mentioned that this was their second year conducting the audit, and was very pleased to report that they found everything to be in order and in place. He also added that they found no issues with respect to any of the accounting documents missing, that everything was tidied up. The mayor applauded the Finance Department for their great work and team effort.

Commissioner Vinson made a motion to approve the action item, and it was seconded by Commissioner Fernandez. Motion carried, 5-0.

4. Consideration and ACTION to approve upgrades to the parking areas at the Police

Department and the Community Center.

City manager explained, “since we area upgrading the parking areas at the Community Park and the Memorial Park, and the contractor will be in Los Fresnos for that job, I got a quote to seal and re-stripe the parking lot at the Police Department and the Community Center. The state approved contracted price is $5,000. This is very reasonable and will preserve these lots for many more years. We have the funds available under street repairs.”

Commissioner Fernandez made a motion to approve, and seconded by Commissioner Muñoz. Motion carried, 5-0.

5. Consideration and ACTION to approve emergency repairs that had to be done to the sewer system along Condor Drive between Veteran’s Memorial Drive and Eagle Drive.

Mr. Milum explained to the council, “we had a major collapse in the main sewer line that runs from the city hall to the east towards the lift station along Condor Drive. The line is very deep requiring large trench boxes for protection and dewatering in order to get the water level below the sewer lines to do the work. A large portion of the line had to be replaced due to the collapse and additionally due to the line having a bow in it. It involved replacing 2 driveways.” He added, “we have funding left over from our 2014 loan for water and sewer extensions to the west to prepare for the arrival of Walmart. This funding allows for water and sewer work—” these funds will be utilized.

Commissioner Muñoz made a motion to approve, and seconded by Commissioner Vinson. Motion carried, 5-0.

6. Consideration and ACTION to approve the action taken by the Los Fresnos Community Development Board adding a full-time position of Economic Development Coordinator to replace the current staffing structure.

City manager shared, “Los Fresnos continues to grow and evolve from a small country town with growth and development continuing at a fast pace to a city with increasing needs. Due to this, I believe it is time to have a full-time employee to handle of oversee our economic development. The liaison and interns have done a phenomenal job over the last 10 plus years. Our needs have grown past this to require more from this department.” He recommended approval.

Commissioner Escobedo made a motion to approve, and seconded by Commissioner Fernandez. Motion carried, 5-0.

Following, City Manager briefly reported that plants are being installed at the Veteran’s Memorial and some adjustments to the leveling of lights are being made.

Commissioner Fernandez made a motion to approve city manager’s report, and seconded by Commissioner Escobedo. Motion carried, 5-0. Then Commissioner Vinson made a motion to acknowledge department heads’ reports, and seconded by Commissioner Fernandez. Motion carried, 5-0.

Closed session started at 6:35 PM, and Open Session opened at 6:46 PM.

During Open Session, city council are to deliberate and take possible action regarding the following:

1. Open session in accordance to the Texas Open Meetings Act, Government Code Chapter 551, Section 551.071-Consideration and ACTION regarding pending litigation on a vehicle accident lawsuit involving a city vehicle.

No action was taken.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:46 PM.