Votes at a glance: Pharr Commission approves election cancellation, TIRZ extension, housing tax-credit support and multiple contracts

At its Feb. 2025 meeting, the Pharr City Commission approved a series of routine and operational items by voice vote, including canceling the May 3, 2025 general municipal election where applicable and advancing several infrastructure and contracting actions.

Key votes and outcomes

- Cancellation of the May 3, 2025 general municipal election (Item 7.a). Motion to approve the cancellation carried on a voice vote. The transcript records the motion and the chair’s voice vote: “All in favor? Aye. Opposed? It passes.”

- Approval to extend the boundaries of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) Number 2 (Item 7.b). Motion approved by voice vote.

- Resolution supporting Meadow Heights LP to apply to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for 2025 competitive 9% housing tax credits for Meadow Heights Apartments (Item 7.c). Motion approved by voice vote.

- Appointment of Robert Carrillo Jr. as an alternate member to the Planning and Zoning Commission (Item 7.d). Motion approved by voice vote; staff recommendation was noted in the record.

- Adoption of the CapEx Consulting Group water and wastewater rate study for the city of Pharr (Item 8.a). The item was adopted, with the transcript noting it was discussed during the commission’s second session.

- Approval of a proposed toll-fee increase for salvage vehicles at the Pharr International Bridge (Item 8.b). Motion approved by voice vote.

- Ratification of an emergency purchase and installation of replacement equipment for the wastewater treatment plant from Lewis Electric Motors for $147,353.72 (Item 9.a). Motion approved by voice vote; the agenda reported the vendor and the amount.

- Acceptance of PSJA Tri-City Pedestrian Safety Improvements Phase 1 as complete (Item 10.a). Motion approved by voice vote.

- Authorization for the city manager to enter a service agreement with LifeScan Wellness Center (Tampa, Fla.) to provide annual medical physicals for the fire department (Item 10.b). Motion approved by voice vote.

- Deductive change order No. 1 and addition of 30 calendar days to the Pharr International Bridge expansion contract (Item 10.c). Staff explained the international span alternate was part of the contract but had not been included earlier; the change adds 30 days and the completion date remains in 2025. Motion approved by voice vote.

- Amendment No. 2 to the professional engineering services agreement with GDJ Engineering for the Veterans Road hike-and-bike expansion (Item 10.d). Motion approved by voice vote.

- Agreement with Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 for an aerial permit for the Pharr International Bridge (Item 10.e). Motion approved by voice vote.

Several items were enacted on the consent agenda by a single motion; the record notes one abstention related to the consent vote. For all listed items the transcript records routine motions (“Motion to approve,” “Second”) followed by voice votes; roll-call tallies and individual yes/no votes are not recorded in the public transcript excerpts.

Why it matters: the items advance infrastructure work (bridge expansion, pedestrian improvements), maintain operational services (wastewater equipment replacement, fire department medicals), and support affordable-housing financing through the state tax-credit application process. The cancellation of the May 3 election typically occurs when races are uncontested; the commission’s action formally removes the election from the calendar where appropriate.

Provenance: each action is recorded in the meeting transcript; topic introduction and finish markers below cite the transcript segments where each item appears.