Jeremy Hendricks, a District 4 resident, told the Socorro City Council on Nov. 20 that he followed staff instructions when he submitted a ‘no-build’ resolution for the Arterial 1 project but was told by the city secretary that only the mayor or a council member may place items on the agenda (citing “section 2-53”). Hendricks said he drafted the resolution not to halt the NEPA study but to notify TxDOT that Socorro would support a no-build outcome if the NEPA process recommended it. “This is exactly why I drafted the no build resolution,” he said, noting his packet included maps, cost data and a corridor-overlay analysis.

Hendricks argued the timing and application of section 2-53 appeared to keep his item off the agenda despite prior public statements from council members expressing concern about the project. He told the council he had attempted to contact Mayor Rudy Cruz by voicemail and email and asked council members to sponsor the resolution so it could be discussed openly.

Mayor Cruz replied that he received Hendricks’ voicemail and sent a written response by email on Monday the 17th, and that copies were shared with the city manager and others. Hendricks reiterated he had not received a satisfactory pathway to have the item formally sponsored for agenda placement and asked the mayor and council to use their authority under section 2-53 to allow discussion.

Also during public comment, Edgar Carrasco said he submitted a public-information request on Nov. 2 seeking communications and studies tied to the Anderson Road/Arterial project and described a series of missed deadlines. He said an initial estimate to produce the records was $75, then rose to $900 after follow-ups, and that he had not received the responsive documents by the statutory deadline. “It cost $900 to provide some documentations to be transparent, guys,” Carrasco said.

A city staff member explained the municipal practice cited by staff: when collecting and compiling records requires significant time and personnel, the city charges the actual costs it incurs to assemble those records, and staff said that practice is authorized by Texas law (the speaker corrected a prior reference and identified the Public Information Act as the pertinent law). The council did not take further action on either issue during the meeting.

Why it matters: Hendricks’ comment raises procedural questions about who may place items on the city agenda and whether residents have a practicable path to secure formal council consideration. Carrasco’s statement highlights the operational and financial hurdles some residents face when attempting to obtain public records. Both issues are rooted in city process and staff practice and, as raised publicly, may prompt follow-up or staff reports.

Next steps: Hendricks asked council members to sponsor his resolution; Carrasco’s request and fee estimate may be subject to further administrative review under the Texas Public Information Act.