Mission council directs staff to amend Texas Citrus Fiesta bylaws after heated public comments

After more than an hour of public comment both defending and criticizing the Texas Citrus Fiesta, the Mission City Council voted 3–2 on Feb. 24 to direct staff to prepare amendments to the festival’s resolutions and bylaws for council consideration at the March 10 meeting.

Supporters including Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, and TJ Flowers of Lone Star Citrus Growers praised the TCF’s role in promoting local agriculture and tourism. Galeazzi told the council the King’s Association “has at no time called into question the performance of the director,” and urged a quick, non‑escalatory resolution. Flowers described the organization’s long history in the Rio Grande Valley and defended the current leadership.

Several speakers criticized city involvement and transparency. Marina Salinas, identifying herself as a taxpayer and educator, said she was “terrified” of the city’s role in operating the TCF and urged the council to reconsider using taxpayer dollars to run the event. Norma Sanchez, a retired city employee and former TCF board member, said school floats that typically were judged were not reviewed this year and that score sheets were not available after an open‑records request.

At public comment, April Flowers, a TCF board member, disputed accusations against the organization and said the TCF’s finances were positive: “We out fundraised by $58,000,” she said, adding the figure did not include city allocations. Several speakers said a complaint had been improperly leaked from closed session and urged the council to follow charter procedures.

Councilmember Jessica Ortega read prepared remarks denying allegations that she violated Section 3.08 of the city charter and framing her actions as legitimate oversight. Ortega said the city’s charter and the festival’s articles of incorporation allow the city an assisting role and that her inquiries were driven by concerns about transparency and conflicts of interest.

After council discussion, Councilmember Blatta moved to direct staff “to prepare amendments to resolution and bylaws amending destruction [sic] our organization and the corporation, Texas Citro Fiesta” for the March 10 agenda; the motion was seconded and passed 3–2. The council did not adopt specific bylaws during the meeting; staff was instructed to draft proposed language and present it at the March 10 council meeting.

The action is procedural: it sends a draft amendment to staff for preparation, rather than immediately dissolving or otherwise altering the corporation. The council did not vote on any immediate financial changes or on removing the city’s involvement at the Feb. 24 meeting.