Rio Grande City Commission approves ordinances, grant applications and contracts; rejects wastewater plant bids

The Rio Grande City Commission on Thursday approved a series of ordinances, resolutions, grant applications and contracts and rejected bids for the city's wastewater treatment plant expansion after engineers reported bids exceeded the available budget.

The commission unanimously approved second reading of an amended franchise ordinance with Medina Electric Cooperative and a new ordinance to regulate private use of the name "Rio Grande City." Commissioners also advanced first readings of proposed rules to require permits for door-to-door sales and to regulate parking of heavy commercial trucks in residential and commercial areas. Several grant-authorizing resolutions were approved, covering Department of Justice awards for victim services and interdiction, a Border Zone grant for radios and a drinking-water state revolving fund application amendment.

Why it matters: The package includes multiple grant applications that would fund public safety, water and downtown revitalization projects; the wastewater bid rejection means the city must seek additional funding or reduce project scope before construction can begin.

Most important actions - Rejected bids for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Extension (TWDB project 73874) after engineers and staff concluded the lowest responsive bids exceeded available funding; the commission voted to reject the bids so staff can seek alternative funding or revise scope. (Unanimous vote.) - Approved second reading of the Medina Electric franchise ordinance (ordinance cited as "94 14 o 1" in the meeting packet). (Unanimous vote.) - Approved second reading of ordinance 2025-01 to regulate private use of the name "Rio Grande City." (Unanimous vote.) - Approved first reading of ordinance 2025-02 to require permits for door-to-door solicitation and 2025-03 to regulate commercial truck parking (both advanced on first reading; amendments and timing to be set at the second reading). (Unanimous votes on first readings.) - Authorized the city manager to apply for and accept several federal grant awards and to submit other grant applications, including: DOJ victim liaison grant (grant number 3087909, requested $45,268.91, local match $11,317.23), the Violence Against Women Act grant (grant number 4050606, requested $60,681.85, match $18,430.16) and a drug/human trafficking prevention grant (grant number 2785012, $53,008.40, no match). (All approved unanimously.) - Approved application for a Border Zone grant (Waterstone Fire Department RCB grant number 50978022B) up to $250,000 to purchase portable and mobile radios. (Unanimous vote.) - Authorized revisions and execution of community development agreements for the CDBG downtown/main-street program (CDM240074) and execution of the consulting contract with the previously awarded firm. (Unanimous vote.) - Authorized staff to execute a professional services agreement to perform a wholesale water-rate study for wholesale accounts (staff recommended contractor referenced in the packet). (Motion approved.) - Approved miscellaneous departmental renewals and small service contracts (police taser lease, car-wash membership, software subscriptions) and approved donation/surplus transfers for city equipment. (Unanimous votes.)

Background/details Commissioners said the city's budget constraints and the unexpectedly high construction bids drove the decision to reject the wastewater plant bids. Engineers from Melvin & Hunt reported that the lowest responsive bid came in far above the funding available; they described options for scaling the project back by about 25 percent, which would still leave a funding shortfall. City staff said they have sought additional funding from the Texas Water Development Board but that any extra funding could come as a loan or a mix of loan and grant depending on scoring.

On the ordinances, commissioners emphasized public-safety and consumer-protection rationales: the door-to-door ordinance will require vendors to register and carry identifiers, and staff will consider adding time-of-day limits and a public-awareness campaign; the truck-parking ordinance is intended to reduce street damage and neighborhood impacts while allowing the city manager to designate alternate routes.

Several grant resolutions were routine renewals of long-standing federal grant programs used by the Police Department (victim services, VAWA detective position, interdiction officer). City staff provided amounts requested and noted required local matches where applicable.

What's next The wastewater project will be deferred while staff pursues additional funding and tries to reduce scope; ordinances on solicitation and truck parking will return for second reading with potential clarifying language on identification and permitted hours; grant applications will proceed as authorized and the city will execute the community block grant agreement so the downtown project can begin design and procurement.

Votes at a glance: motions and formal outcomes listed in the meeting record (Where tallies were not read aloud the meeting recorded unanimous "aye" votes.) - Consent agenda (minutes and departmental reports) approved as moved and seconded (unanimous). - Travel requests (planning inspector certification; GFOA conference) approved (unanimous). - Ordinance second reading: Medina Electric franchise ("94 14 o 1") approved (unanimous). - Ordinance second reading: 2025-01 (use of "Rio Grande City" name) approved (unanimous). - Ordinance first reading: 2025-02 (door-to-door permits) advanced (unanimous); staff to refine identification/time limits for second reading. - Ordinance first reading: 2025-03 (heavy truck parking regulation) advanced (unanimous). - Resolutions approving grants (DOJ victim liaison 3087909; VAWA 4050606; drug/human trafficking 2785012) approved (unanimous). - Border Zone (Waterstone) grant application up to $250,000 (radios) approved (unanimous). - Drinking Water SRF application revision (application 63011) approved (unanimous recorded roll-call vote noted in the minutes). - TREP/ledgestation infrastructure resolution (grant advocacy) approved (unanimous). - CDBG downtown/main-street professional contract and agreement (CDM24074) executed/approved (unanimous). - Municipal court expansion work: award to Reina Holmes (lowest responsive or recommended bid) approved (motion carried). - Rate study contract for wholesale water accounts recommended to proceed (motion carried). - Reject bids for WWTP extension (TWDB project 73874) (motion to reject bids carried unanimously). - Wastewater residual / sludge service: motion to go out for competitive bids (approved after executive session). - MOU with Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council for airport use (police academy driving) approved (unanimous). - Surplus/donation of city property (fire station items and equipment) approved (unanimous). - Racial profiling report for Police Department (fiscal 2024) accepted and approved for submission (unanimous). - Preliminary approvals for two subdivisions (Valentin Rancho preliminary and MC Rodriguez preliminary/final as noted) approved (unanimous).

Ending The meeting concluded after executive session items, with commissioners adopting the executive-session recommendations on authorized items and adjourning the meeting.