[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6086358,"mediaKeyId","2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d","parentId",2896342,"title","Brownsville votes: contract awards, appointments and grant-authority items approved","audioSeconds",5105,"startMs",3021000,"endMs",8126000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d&start=3021&end=8126","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d/thumbnail_3021000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6086358/Brownsville/Cameron-County/Texas/Brownsville-votes-contract-awards-appointments-and-grant-authority-items-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086358-b3909d59829a7dcffc95500fe1909f44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195716&Signature=HcnImySBP2U6kWG8QxoJlUnyvc7hbpDC3nDVyho3vdZKaOOhQN~8-FBQUq45gyfNFDEvXH6SLUkMJoNNgWpa5cL0Gt2-RDc3z6CiBVZv6TH-NISfMQECikg6aJKp0iyQHst~uOyOVlQtrO6cdc5MxLWR2tyS~kp67CWVtAQCysG9YmZFmP4M3oGId~hOkrZjpc9bSE~RicIYmrdGGSzdO-ExJPurvJ~JxyfogEPhpfBAq4qbNbVYpG4CMDv2zU2G4LwFWhVaga62IBL9N-Zkh6KVibzqno98oiRZ3Df5rfFa8hRhH-z67FolG-EcWnKlHq9Y~umrnkNhtS~2mxm7Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Brownsville TX","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","The Brownsville City Commission took several formal votes on April 1, adopting the consent agenda, approving a $3,499,347.50 contract to construct Landfill Cell 5, appointing a member to a public improvement district board, authorizing eminent-domain acquisition for a drainage project and authorizing negotiation steps related to a federal grant settlement.

Votes at a glance

• Consent agenda: Approved by voice vote (motion, second and voice vote recorded). Specific items on the consent agenda were approved as presented.

• Landfill Cell 5 contract (Project 087-25-WPE-IFB): Approved. Contract award of $3,499,347.50 to ForEx Construction Group to construct Cell 5; motion passed by voice vote.

• Board appointment — Paseo De La Resaca Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District: The commission appointed Oscar Lozano to one of four vacancies in the district board composition as presented. Motion carried by voice vote.

• Resolution 2025-039 — Project 1B North Main Drain and 4 Corners: Approved. Resolution authorizes acquisition and, if needed, eminent-domain proceedings to secure approximately 25.79 acres described in the resolution for drainage and parkland improvements.

• Federal grant item (Good Neighbor Settlement House / FEMA SSP): The commission authorized staff to proceed as discussed in executive session and to negotiate the Good Neighbor Settlement House grant agreement and related FEMA SSP grant-award matters; motion passed by voice vote.

Several votes were taken following an executive session under Texas Government Code Chapter 551. Individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript; all items were announced as carried by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Meeting 04/01/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 1 meeting, the Brownsville City Commission approved the consent agenda, awarded a landfill construction contract, appointed Oscar Lozano to a public improvement district board, authorized eminent-domain action for a drainage project and authorized negotiation of a federal grant settlement agreement.","taxTitle","Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas","taxId",2775,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086365,"Residents criticize Starbase alignment, describe homelessness and arrests during public comment",121,2278000,2399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d&start=2278&end=2399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d/thumbnail_2278000.jpg","/articles/6086365/Brownsville/Cameron-County/Texas/Residents-criticize-Starbase-alignment-describe-homelessness-and-arrests-during-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086365-f8d62619a62fabe9ec661ac629357a8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195716&Signature=Di1qbzEQDOnnHT9SozF1lUqRPUsKlIX89bfrCpjPjlVdyMsLgExuGpH-wj6MIbUiLihqESOpM6UqIa987LazjvhObrFcbWnvC05-3gj95jvNBiLXt4VwQkYMhKVsExDeNf0Iviigh7abWssL3ZC1npyzHPU4cxN9eDMA3p0V-EFd6FoXvoPuJVTNxMxjGZqu6Eo2eQzpXsikYLNCpQaYqO9KIjb4Crs4FkrfYDrBYSYCHZkpP7v9f92nPztkUcqikMGyiAaGunYumvJmccQe7-dC3QGoP~4NVXKGPNuOQ~b7sE1VDB1ZDGEFJXc9wgbv4VwMrsFQg8pf2qOF90YnPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public comment period at the April 1 Brownsville City Commission meeting, speakers urged the commission to prioritize longtime residents and raised concerns about homelessness enforcement.

Yolanda Spies, who registered to speak, criticized local support for SpaceX’s Starbase and said the region’s character was being reshaped in favor of outside interests. \"It's a deliberate, calculated, hostile takeover,\" Spies said. \"Anyone who continues to support or work for Elon Musk's vision of Starbase at the expense of Brownsville won't be remembered kindly. ... You can't claim to love this city while disregarding its people.\"

Another registered speaker, who identified himself as Diablo Veliz, said he is homeless and described past arrests he attributed to policing of people trying to assist the poor. \"I am a homeless, and I have no job. I have no working skills. I have no education,\" Veliz said. \"No man, no woman should go to jail because they are poor and they are hungry.\"

The city read aloud the public-comment rules before speakers, including prohibitions on banners and disruption and instructions that comments be addressed to the mayor and commission as a whole. The city secretary said three members had registered through the public-comment form.

Speakers expressed strong views but the commission took no formal action during the public-comment period. Following public comments the agenda proceeded to the city manager's update and other scheduled business.","During public comment at the April 1 meeting, residents accused city officials of prioritizing Starbase/Elon Musk interests over longtime residents and described arrests and hardships tied to homelessness enforcement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086370,"Brownsville authorizes eminent domain to acquire 25.79-acre tract for North Main Drain project",111,7969000,8080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d&start=7969&end=8080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d/thumbnail_7969000.jpg","/articles/6086370/Brownsville/Cameron-County/Texas/Brownsville-authorizes-eminent-domain-to-acquire-2579-acre-tract-for-North-Main-Drain-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086370-fb156de606004640fee685a2ed72d871/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195716&Signature=Wre7b5BboAi2iWP3aHAwNW9RXgtqkhjzk5fD5HBx-nLbFEMo-q6Ku81wX1N0YbOubHJnj~-QZ42TBBmKbuxkWesAdi~G5~t56~oQtETZ0hGD-J5eMcppHO2SYSOYOuOWpTRXTETFtIiX0RC~ctArcuiquxTnaq-zYSxziGZ8gk77IcdalSqf33A3CfKzBC0HJcVZmmSAQiDyZ5PCjqFRXifipvhEEmCKvN5NNYXv1wNEeteVoU9H14maQfihznPSSFK28szDXzK1E30lH9tz8VH0dqKVgAFuFV0xM9aBT8iTgQIq1aiuFVLm3Kx8XJzpAsMTvkUCaP0lm~vns0FqTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brownsville City Commission on April 1 approved Resolution 2025-039 authorizing the city to acquire by negotiation or, if necessary, eminent domain a roughly 25.79-acre tract needed for Project 1B North Main Drain and 4 Corners, a drainage and parkland improvement project described in the Port Isabel HUC-10 watershed study.

According to the materials read into the record, the parcel was described as 25.79 acres and read as “1,000,123,412 square feet, more or less” in the meeting text. The property was identified by county appraisal records (CCAD) as currently appraised at $1,685,119 (per CCAD), and located at the southeast corner of Robin Hood Drive and Old Port Isabel Road in Brownsville. The owner listed in the reading was South Texas Collaborative for Housing Development Inc., recorded in the Cameron County official public records under the document number read into the record.

City staff said the acquisition is for public use to provide drainage and parkland improvements, to extend and enlarge the city's drainage system and to benefit the city’s drainage capacity. The presentation stated engineering estimates indicate the improvements will benefit approximately 19,600 residents and about 1,000 homes.

A commissioner moved to approve Resolution 2025-039, and the motion passed by voice vote. The resolution authorizes acquisition and, if necessary, the filing of eminent domain proceedings and payment for the fee-simple interest described in the resolution. City staff noted final purchase price and closing steps remain subject to appraisal updates or a commissioner’s award, and the appraisal figure read into the record may be adjusted by further appraisal work or negotiation.

The commission acted after an executive session held under Texas Government Code Chapter 551 (sections 551.071 and 551.072) related to the project. The resolution's adoption allows the city to proceed with acquiring the property through negotiation or condemnation as described in the document approved by the commission.","The commission approved Resolution 2025-039 authorizing acquisition and filing of eminent domain proceedings to acquire approximately 25.79 acres owned by South Texas Collaborative for Housing Development Inc for Project 1B North Main Drain and 4 Corners.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086376,"Brownsville approves $3.5 million contract to build landfill Cell 5",127,2835000,2962000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d&start=2835&end=2962","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896342-e21a38a3b1ac88cc5a16317ccdef619d/thumbnail_2835000.jpg","/articles/6086376/Brownsville/Cameron-County/Texas/Brownsville-approves-35-million-contract-to-build-landfill-Cell-5","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086376-da9a959e2fe40f4957cb7d969fca5cdf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195716&Signature=glaBdfJN9Ngek0uunQGkruSvHMJn6IK1WJZHvpP-oRH28afjBh0k4ds50mm4JP~-GSPK5uNB5Jg~attE9jYIoqm9LXt3EtnimKGeHuXIWpqC2UgV~whIjrpUmfnlvPkp7fY7bd9Mqyq7Ovnu7lJLrZKPlqp~~fitA1PaJR-Uc8RVumX5Nmh0EI0PmeFiASekfjK6GzahzHIv6rrYnpJBibBWVc2pzP5oFEDQvrhRN32foxENdXrMHufpEHSvVWjP-o6Md4sROT47Abthy1dVX4TCGNwM8q-NkpszQFABBPA39S2T-rFZPCWuQfzf7yMb~5p6MwSk1z40Sr4TcE8tLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brownsville City Commission on April 1 approved a $3,499,347.50 contract with ForEx Construction Group to construct Landfill Cell 5, a roughly 9-acre expansion of the city landfill intended to add disposal capacity and maintain compliance with state and federal environmental requirements.

City officials said the project will include earthworks, structural fill, placement of a barrier/liner, installation of a leachate collection system and associated manholes and access work. Marie Val Guerrero, interim director for engineering and public works, described the scope to commissioners and said the cost falls within the Fiscal Year 2025 capital improvement plan budget.

The contract award was presented as Project 087-25-WPE-IFB. City staff told the commission ForEx Construction Group is a heavy-civil contractor established in 2012 with experience on landfill projects across multiple states; the presentation listed prior public and private landfill clients. Commissioners moved and seconded the contract award and the motion passed by voice vote.

The commission's approval authorizes the city to proceed with construction activities required to expand the landfill disposal area. City staff said the design follows state and federal regulatory requirements for landfill liners and leachate control. No amount beyond the contract price was approved or discussed during the item.

The motion carried by voice vote; the commission did not record individual roll-call tallies during the public discussion. The bid award will proceed to contract execution and scheduling by the city's internal services and public works departments.","The Brownsville City Commission on April 1 awarded a $3,499,347.50 contract to ForEx Construction Group to construct a 9-acre landfill cell (Cell 5) including an alternative liner and leachate system, as included in the city's 2025 CIP.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brownsville votes: contract awards, appointments and grant-authority items approved

Residents criticize Starbase alignment, describe homelessness and arrests during public comment

Brownsville authorizes eminent domain to acquire 25.79-acre tract for North Main Drain project

Brownsville approves $3.5 million contract to build landfill Cell 5