Eagle Pass to explore four-day summer workweek pilot for city staff; council asks for implementation plan

The City Council discussed a proposal to pilot a four-day summer workweek for city employees during June and July and asked staff to return with an implementation plan that includes staffing rotations to keep essential services and public counter hours available.

Why it matters: a summer four-day schedule could provide work-life balance benefits to employees with school-age children and be used as a recruitment incentive; it also requires operational planning to ensure continuity of public services such as police, fire and utility functions.

Administration proposed a Monday-through-Thursday schedule with a 7:30 a.m. start and a 30-minute lunch, working a 40-hour week and giving employees Fridays off for two months. Council members expressed concern that a 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. day would fatigue staff and suggested instead an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule with a one-hour lunch and departmental A/B rotations so City Hall remains open and essential services are staffed. Councilman Garcia and other council members advocated for a pilot approach and for staff to coordinate with department heads on feasibility, particularly for public safety and field crews that already adjust schedules for heat.

Councilwoman Ramon moved to table the item pending staff's development of a detailed implementation plan that incorporates the 8 a.m.–4 p.m. option, one-hour lunch and rotation plans; the motion carried unanimously. Staff said they will bring a proposed schedule and operational plan back to council before implementation in summer 2026.