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Council presses management for cohesive bond and Washington trip messaging; town halls and budget education planned
Summary
Council members urged a coordinated outreach plan for the upcoming bond referendum and the March Washington legislative trip; management said town halls and marketing preparations will begin in March and interviews for a marketing director start next week.
LAREDO, Feb. 18, 2025 — City council members on Tuesday pressed management for a coordinated public‑education strategy for a proposed bond referendum and for consistent messaging ahead of a March Washington legislative trip.
Why it matters: The city plans its first bond referendum of this type in more than three decades, council members said, and they emphasized that the public needs a clear explanation of what the bonds would fund and how — and what effects, if any, they would have on property taxes.
Council direction and staff response Mayor Victor D. Trevino and several council members said the city must avoid inconsistent messages both on the road to Washington and in local voter outreach. Management told the council it is preparing fact sheets, three town hall meetings in March and April, and a draft outreach plan that mixes in‑house staff work with outside marketing assistance. The city manager said interviews for an internal marketing‑director position begin next week and that staff will start issuing informational materials in March and escalate messaging in the two months before the referendum.
Staff also said legal constraints limit the city to factual information in official materials (it may not use public dollars for advocacy for or against a ballot measure) and that the city will focus on “what the facts are” about the bond package.
Budget education and town halls Council member Vanessa Perez and others urged additional outreach: workshops that let residents see budget numbers and enterprise fund breakdowns (bridges, utilities and other revenue sources) and departmental presentations so residents understand the city’s spending priorities. Management said it will propose a budget‑only workshop and a town hall schedule; staff intends to provide fact sheets, director‑level presenters, and local agency partners to explain departmental needs.
Next steps Management said it will provide the council with the draft marketing/education plan at the next meeting, continue procurement work for outside assistance if required, and hold scheduled town halls starting in March. The council asked staff to ensure town halls include subject‑matter experts from impacted departments (police, utilities, public works) so the public can hear technical explanations from the people who manage services.
Provenance: Council discussion and staff comments during communications and agenda items.
