The Harlingen City Commission approved a prioritized, in‑house list of drainage improvements for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 on Monday and authorized the city manager to proceed with implementation in coordination with Cameron County drainage districts and irrigation districts.

Why it matters: drainage work is a recurring public‑safety and property‑protection priority in Harlingen; commissioners noted repeated flooding and lift‑station outages in recent storms and asked for quicker response and long‑term solutions.

City engineer Roberto Hernandez presented the priority list, which includes Limbscomb ditch outfall improvements, Westway outfall drainage improvements, Spanish/Secluded Acres drainage improvements, 13th Street ditch improvements, North Bass Hill Crossings improvements, Treasure Hills drainage and the Hardinge and Police detention pond improvements. He said Limbscomb and Westway are shorter projects that crews can address quickly; the Spanish/Secluded Acres and 13th Street ditches are larger — Hernandez described the Thirteenth Street work as roughly 1.5 miles of ditch and said crews anticipate dropping the bench by approximately five to six feet in key reaches.

Hernandez said the city will provide labor and equipment for excavation and hauling but that material purchases (pipe, culverts) and some crossings are expected to be provided or coordinated with the drainage and irrigation districts. He said a second, permanent drainage crew and equipment are planned but not yet budgeted until January, when hiring and equipment purchases are scheduled to begin.

Commissioners asked about timing and costs. Hernandez said short projects would be addressed in months, while the larger ditch regrades and sewer‑interceptor work require more time and coordination; he emphasized work with local developers to haul dirt and offset costs where possible.

Action: Commission approved the list and authorized the city manager to coordinate implementation with drainage partners; the vote carried unanimously.

Ending: Staff will begin Limbscomb and Westway outfall work and continue coordination on the larger design and site‑work packages for Spanish/Secluded Acres and 13th Street with drainage districts and developers.