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Laredo TIRZ board approves $1,200 project information sign, advances downtown landscaping plan
Summary
The Downtown TIRZ board approved a design and installation budget not to exceed $1,200 for a public information graphic sign and advanced a block-by-block landscape plan, directing staff and consultants to visit a nursery within two weeks to finalize tree selections and return in March.
LAREDO — The Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 1 board on Feb. 10 approved up to $1,200 to produce and install a public information graphic that will illustrate project improvements and timelines, and the board advanced a multi-block streetscape planting plan while scheduling a nursery visit to pick final tree specimens.
The board voted by voice to add the sign work as an amendment to KCI Technologies’ contract and authorized staff to return any required contract amendment for final approval. Edward O’Shaugh of KCI told board members the graphic could include a QR code linking to a project page to provide deeper information for residents and businesses.
The decision followed a presentation of the preliminary landscape plan covering nine downtown blocks. KCI’s plan proposes a palette that includes desert willow (shown in the plan as a pink flowering tree), chinkapin oak, palo verde and various palms. The board and architects reviewed alternatives developed at a prior workshop and discussed safety, sight-lines and maintenance considerations.
Board members raised safety concerns about thorny species and whether trees would obstruct business signage or vehicle sight-lines; KCI noted thornless varieties of palo verde are available and said architects were instructed to avoid species likely to harm pedestrians. "There is a thornless version of the Palo Verde that will be placed," Edward O’Shaugh said during the discussion.
Members also debated palms versus shade trees on one block. KCI highlighted a utilities constraint on one north block where an AEP duct bank lies shallow (approximately 12–18 inches below grade), which limits root depth and may favor species with shallower root systems. Board members said shade is desirable downtown and asked staff and the landscape architect to research alternatives and return recommendations.
To finalize selections, the board approved a motion to schedule a field trip to a nursery within the next two weeks with the consultant team, engineering staff and architects invited to participate; the board directed KCI and staff to report back at the March meeting with confirmed selections and any necessary design or budget revisions. The board also agreed to place a replacement oak at a Convent Street location where a tree stump currently remains.
Next steps: staff will coordinate the nursery visit, KCI will prepare sign graphics including a QR code option for the TIRZ website, and the board expects to revisit the landscape plan with finalized species and any contract amendments in March.
