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City, Mission CISD approve land swap and donations to address local flooding
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Summary
The Mission City Council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Mission Consolidated Independent School District to exchange and donate parcels near schools and the pump house in a bid to create relief capacity and park expansion for local flood mitigation.
The City of Mission and Mission Consolidated Independent School District approved a memorandum of understanding to exchange and donate several parcels to help mitigate recurring local flooding, Mayor Nori Gonzalez Garza said after the council vote.
The MOU identifies two district properties the city may use for flood mitigation: a tract at Francisco Avenue and Citriana and the athletic field at Bridal Elementary School; in return the city will donate a tract at the northeast corner of Bridal Road and Elm Drive so the district can develop overflow parking for Bridal Elementary. The district will also donate landlocked parcels near the Mission Pump House along Canal Street and U.S. Highway 83 for expansion and improvement of Leopinha Placita Park. The council voted to approve the MOU unanimously.
Why it matters: Council members and district officials said the parcels address long-standing drainage problems that affect students, parents and nearby residents. Mayor Nori Gonzalez Garza called the agreement “a huge, huge, huge win for our city,” saying the partnership “moved forward for the betterment of both the school district and our city, our students, our residents in those areas.”
City staff presented the MOU and recommended approval; the district’s board approved the same deal on May 21, 2025. Dr. Chris Valdez, superintendent of Mission CISD, said the district supported the project and framed it as a collaborative effort “to build great schools and to help build a great city.”
What the council did: The motion to approve passed unanimously (5–0). The council approved the memorandum of understanding as presented and invited district representatives for a photo following the vote.
Context and next steps: The MOU does not itself fund construction; it establishes land use and donation terms so the city and district can design and pursue mitigation work. The city manager recommended approval at the meeting. Project design, permitting, and any construction or funding allocations will proceed under separate actions and budgets.
