Pharr highlights deployment to Kerr County floods, Avocado Fest lineup, pet clinic and human trafficking outreach

The Pharr City Commission heard a city manager report highlighting the city's emergency response to a Central Texas flood, recent community events and upcoming public activities.

City officials said Pharr deployed more than 20 first responders to assist Kerr County after severe flash flooding. The deployment included firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, Pharr Police Department mounted-patrol members and an emotional-support dog named Maya. Dan Ramirez, the city’s EMS chief, thanked city leadership for supporting staff who participated in the 14-month Certified Public Manager program and noted the department's readiness to assist other communities.

Julia Gonzales of the Office of City Communications summarized community events and outreach. She said the city sent teams to Kerr County for search-and-rescue and to provide hot meals and support to emergency communications staff. Gonzales said Pharr’s public-safety teams worked alongside local volunteer fire departments and nonprofits to help with river-bank searches and on-site relief.

The city also reported a pet wellness fair and rabies clinic at the Pepe Salinas Center that served more than 440 animals. The event offered vaccines, microchipping and low-cost preventive-care education, city staff said.

Officials announced the Avocado Fest lineup for Oct. 11 in downtown Pharr. The lineup mentioned during the report includes Alley Cat Crash, Domingo Tercero, Grupo Misteno, Beatriz Gonzalez and Red (a Taylor Swift tribute band); additional performers listed were John King and In Corbin. The city said more promotional material will be released on its social platforms in the coming months.

The commission heard about the Red Sand Project event on July 23 at Pharr City Hall to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Julia Gonzales said Pharr PD is the only department in the Rio Grande Valley with a dedicated human-trafficking liaison, Nancy Gonzales, who is coordinating local awareness and support efforts. Nancy Gonzales described the outreach's goal as helping victims who are sometimes misclassified under other offenses, and educating the public about the different forms of trafficking so victims do not "fall through the cracks."

Staff also announced an open house tied to the R4R comprehensive plan process on July 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Pharr Developmental Research Center (Pharr DRC); the open house will include community conversation, raffles and food. Other upcoming events listed by staff included Pharr Night Out (a back-to-school event) on Aug. 5 and a kids-focused Night Under the Stars on Aug. 8.

Sales tax summary City staff reported year-to-date sales tax increases for the most recent months: April 9.41 percent, May 7.22 percent, June 6.61 percent and July 5.44 percent.

What was said and next steps Dan Ramirez, identified in the record as EMS chief, thanked the commission for supporting staff training and the Certified Public Manager program, saying the coursework offered material staff could apply to daily operations. A public utilities director who spoke (identified only by first name as Ruben in the transcript) said the class provided useful leadership tools to apply in city operations.

City communications staff said additional Avocado Fest promotional material and a full press packet would be posted on the city’s social media channels. The Red Sand Project event and human-trafficking outreach will proceed under the police department’s liaison; no new funding or council action on those programs was recorded in the meeting transcript.