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San Benito officials praise ResacaFest turnout, ratify emergency stage payment; restroom upgrades cleared for CDBG work
Summary
City staff reported strong community and regional attendance at ResacaFest, and the commission ratified an emergency payment to move the festival stage. Officials said federal CDBG environmental clearance allows restroom projects at Land of Restrooms and Kennedy Park to begin in coming weeks.
City commissioners on July 15 ratified a last‑minute payment to move the performance stage for ResacaFest and heard a report showing the festival drew mostly positive feedback and some regional visitors.
City staff told commissioners a post‑event survey rated ResacaFest highly, with about 88 percent of respondents giving the event four stars or higher and roughly 63 percent of attendees coming from San Benito and the remainder primarily from Harlingen. "Everybody rated it a great experience," a city staff presenter said during the meeting.
The survey and the need to relocate the stage prompted staff to request ratification of an emergency rental and staging charge. Commissioner Goodman moved to ratify the payment; Commissioner Navarro seconded. The commission voted in favor; the motion passed with no recorded nays.
Staff also briefed the commission on planned park improvements funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. City staff said the project known as the "Land of Restrooms" received its final environmental clearance and that a groundbreaking should occur in the next few weeks. Kennedy Park will receive restroom upgrades paid through CDBG as well; city staff said much of that work will be carried out in‑house.
City staff framed the CDBG projects as followups to long‑deferred park maintenance and said federal environmental approvals were the major remaining hurdle. "We finally got our last clearance letter on our environmental, so we should be beginning, in a few weeks," the staff presenter said.
Commissioners asked for final budget numbers for ResacaFest and were told staff would deliver post‑event accounting to the commission.
The commission adjourned after the discussion and approvals.
