San Juan commission approves board appointments, subdivision variances, court amnesty and names interim city manager

The San Juan City Commission approved a series of motions by voice vote, including board appointments, land-use variances for a proposed subdivision, a municipal court amnesty program, the resolution for the May 3 general municipal election, a settlement discussed in executive session, the finalization of a preliminary resolution concerning the removal of the prior city manager, and the appointment of Chief Tiso Garza as interim city manager at $1,500 weekly.

Keep San Juan Beautiful board: Staff recommended appointment of eight people to fill vacancies on the Keep San Juan Beautiful board. The commission approved the appointments by voice vote. Staff presented the recommended members as Eric Jimenez, Alejandro Hernandez, Arturo Ramirez, Mirtha Ramirez, Tanya Piberos, Fernando Benicourt, Daniel Garza Flores and Martha Rosales. The commission also approved updated bylaws for the board. Motion: "Motion to approve all the recommendations." (Mover/second not specified in transcript.) Outcome: Approved by voice vote; motion carries.

Library board: Staff recommended removing a library board member, identified in the record as Hernandez Muro, for exceeding the attendance limit set by state law that the staff cited (staff said a member absent for more than three consecutive meetings is automatically dropped). The commission voted to remove Hernandez Muro and appointed Melina Montoya to the advisory library board. Motion: "I'll make a motion to remove, miss Hernandez Muro and appoint miss Melina Montoya." (Mover and second recorded as part of the roll call; voice vote.) Outcome: Approved by voice vote; motion carries. Authority cited by staff: state law regarding library board membership absences (staff did not provide a specific statute citation).

Preliminary subdivision approval with variances: A developer proposed subdividing a 7.47-acre tract west of Cesar Chavez Road along the south side of Sioux Road into 23 multifamily lots. The request included variances to perimeter utility-easement width, lot depth and lot width requirements; North Alamo Water Supply Corporation will provide water and the city will provide sewer. Planning staff recommended preliminary approval subject to city engineer and departmental comments and to the variances; the Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval at its Jan. 23 meeting. The commission approved the preliminary subdivision with variances by voice vote. Motion: "Is there a motion to approve?" (Mover/second not specified in transcript.) Outcome: Approved by voice vote; motion carries.

Municipal court amnesty program: Mary Enriquez presented an amnesty program for San Juan Municipal Court running Feb. 6 through April 30, 2025. Staff said the failure-to-appear fee ($206) would be waived during the amnesty and that other court fees may apply. Outreach will include social media, website posts and phone calls; online and in-person payments will be accepted. Commissioners asked staff to return after the program ends with a report of participation. Motion: Approval of the amnesty program. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.) Outcome: Approved by voice vote; motion carries.

Order and notice for general municipal election: Staff presented a resolution setting the city’s general municipal election for Saturday, May 3, 2025, with seats for mayor and two commissioner positions (places 2 and 3) and early voting dates April 22–29. Staff said the county will assign presiding and alternate judges. Motion: Approval of the resolution. Outcome: Approved by voice vote; motion carries.

Executive session actions: After returning from executive session, the commission approved a settlement discussed during executive session by voice vote. The commission also moved to make a preliminary resolution concerning the removal of the prior city manager (identified in the record as "De La Cora") final. Both motions were approved by voice vote.

Interim city manager appointment and compensation: The commission voted to appoint Chief Tiso Garza as interim city manager and approved supplemental pay of $1,500 weekly. Motion language in the record: "I'll go ahead and make a motion to appoint, Chief Tiso Garza as the interim city manager with a, $1500, weekly pay." (Motion seconded; voice vote.) Outcome: Approved by voice vote; motion carries.

Votes were recorded as voice votes on all items ("all those in favor say aye"), and the transcript does not contain individual roll-call tallies in the public record. Where staff cited legal authority (library board attendance rule), no statute citation was provided in the meeting record; the transcript indicates staff will follow up on administrative details where necessary.

Votes at a glance: - Keep San Juan Beautiful board appointments (8 names): approved (voice vote). - Keep San Juan Beautiful bylaws update: approved (voice vote). - Library board removal (Hernandez Muro) and appointment (Melina Montoya): approved (voice vote). - Preliminary subdivision approval with variances (7.47-acre tract; 23 multifamily lots): approved (voice vote). - Municipal Court amnesty program (Feb. 6–Apr. 30, 2025): approved (voice vote). - Resolution setting May 3, 2025 general municipal election: approved (voice vote). - Settlement discussed in executive session: approved (voice vote). - Finalization of preliminary resolution regarding removal of prior city manager (De La Cora): approved (voice vote). - Appointment of Chief Tiso Garza as interim city manager at $1,500/week: approved (voice vote).

Commissioners directed staff to return with documentation or reports where the record indicated missing materials (for example, written EDC agreements and the municipal court amnesty participation report).