Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Votes Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harlingen commission approves annexations, zoning change, fee-waiver extension and other measures
Summary
In a largely unanimous series of votes, the Harlingen City Commission approved a rezoning to light-industrial, two voluntary annexations, amendments to plat-expiration rules, an extension of a permit-fee waiver tied to a state of emergency, multiple administrative items and several resolutions including suspension of a gas company rate increase.
The City Commission of Harlingen voted on several ordinances, resolutions and administrative items during the meeting, approving multiple annexations, a rezoning, administrative code changes, and several operational authorizations. Most measures passed unanimously.
Key actions at a glance
- Rezoning to light industry (First reading approved): The commission approved on first reading a request to rezone a 479.25-acre tract along the north side of Rio Hondo Road (approximately 8,540 feet east of Loop 499) from a not-designated district to a light industry district. The motion passed unanimously on the first reading.
- Voluntary annexation: Paloma Lane (Second and final reading approved): The commission adopted an ordinance on second and final reading annexing a 10-acre tract out of Block 3, F.H. Hanley Subdivision on the east side of Paloma Lane (approximately 2,010.46 feet south of Garrett Road). The annexation binds the land to all city acts, ordinances, resolutions and regulations; the motion carried unanimously.
- Voluntary annexation: Cameron County School Lands (First reading approved): The commission approved on first reading an ordinance to annex a 126.5-acre tract out of the Cameron County School Lands (Survey 279) located near Bodamer/Bodenheimer Road and Bob Euchre Road; the motion passed on first reading unanimously.
- Plat requirements amendment (Approved on motion, contingent language): The commission approved an amendment to City of Harlingen Code of Ordinances, Chapter 109 (Subdivision), Section 109-91 (plat requirements — form and content) to add a provision on plat expiration and to move existing subsection content. Commissioners clarified that planning and zoning approved a "one-year expiration with an administrative one-year extension" approach; the commission approved d contingent on the language reflecting that 1-year expiration plus director discretion for a one-year extension.
- Waiver of permit fees during declared state of emergency (Ordinance approved with added 30-day extension): The commission adopted on first reading an amendment to Ordinance No. 2025-26 and Chapter 103 (Building and Building Regulations), Section 103-6 (waiver of permit fees for rehabilitation during declared state of emergency). Commissioners agreed to add an additional 30 days to staff's requested extension to provide additional time for flood-affected residents to obtain permits; the ordinance was approved unanimously.
- Municipal maintenance agreement with Texas Department of Transportation (Authorized): The commission authorized the city manager to finalize a municipal maintenance agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation tied to the Tyler and Harrison interchange and associated sections identified for city maintenance; the motion carried.
- Vehicle replacement for Environmental Health/Animal Control (Authorized): The commission authorized the environmental health director to purchase a replacement vehicle through TIPs USA to replace Unit 612 assigned to an animal control officer; the motion carried unanimously.
- Union Pacific permanent closure of C Street (Approved): The commission approved a request from Union Pacific Railroad to permanently close C Street between Adams Avenue and Jefferson Avenue as part of a rail realignment project; the motion carried unanimously.
- CDBG and HOME program one-year action plan (Approved): The commission removed a previously tabled item from the table and adopted a resolution approving the one-year action plan budget for FY 2025–2026 for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program; the motion carried unanimously.
- Suspension of Texas Gas Service rate increase (Resolution approved): The commission approved a resolution to suspend the proposed effective date (08/19/2025) of Texas Gas Service's requested rate increase to allow the city time to study the request and to authorize legal counsel and consultants to intervene, with recovery of the city's rate case expenses to be sought from the company. Staff noted a caption error in an agenda item that mistakenly referenced AEP; the resolution was filed correctly for Texas Gas Service and the motion carried unanimously.
- Acceptance of ingress/access easement for Camelot Professional Plaza (Approved subject to executive session language): Following an executive session, the commission approved a resolution accepting for public use and maintenance a portion of an ingress and access easement on Lots 1 and 2 of the Camelot Professional Plaza final plat, with approval "subject to the language discussed in executive session." The motion carried.
Procedure and votes
Many items recorded only a motion, a second and that the motion "carried unanimously." Where the transcript did not record the name of the mover or second, the actions are recorded here as adopted with the outcome stated as in the public minutes.
Ending: The commission concluded its business after approving the listed items and stated there were no board appointments; the meeting was adjourned.
