Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recognitions Awards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pharr Commission proclaims Engineers Week, names Trailblazer, and honors retiring lieutenant
Summary
The Pharr City Commission proclaimed Engineers Week and presented staff recognitions including the Trailblazer award to GIS technician Naya Coronado Sarate and a 40-year retirement recognition for Lieutenant Esteban Gonzalez Jr.; Farm Memorial Library received a statewide excellence award.
The Pharr City Commission opened its meeting with proclamations and staff recognitions, proclaiming the week of Feb. 22–28, 2026 as Engineers Week and thanking municipal and partner engineers for their work.
Patricia Longoria, introduced in the meeting as the city engineer, invited staff from local firms and noted that this week highlights engineers' roles in public infrastructure and safety. Commissioner Bobby Carrillo read the proclamation and praised municipal and supporting engineers for helping the city meet technical challenges.
The commission presented the February Trailblazer award to Naya Coronado Sarate, a GIS technician with the engineering department. Sarate accepted the honor and said, “Thank you so much. I'm very honored to receive the award. I love my department, and I hope to keep making it proud.” City staff highlighted that Sarate joined the city in May 2022 and stepped into additional administrative duties during a vacancy.
The meeting also recognized Lieutenant Esteban (Steve) Gonzalez Jr. of the fire department on the eve of his retirement after 40 years of service (hired 11/10/1985). A presenter described Gonzalez’s long service, his leadership in apparatus specifications, and his role as commander of the department honor guard. Gonzalez said, “I've been doing it for 40 years, and I've seen commissioners and mayors come and go,” and thanked his family and colleagues.
Library leaders announced that the Farm Memorial Library received the Texas Municipal Library Director's Excellence in Libraries Award. Staff and a message from Library Advisory Board Chairwoman Olga Cardoza expressed gratitude for the commission’s support and said the recognition reflected years of investment in services and community programs.
The commission also recognized Kenneth Ennis, public safety communications director, for completing the Emergency Number Professional certification, described in the meeting as a high-level credential held by a limited number of communicators in Texas. Ennis thanked staff and the commission for support.
What’s next: These items were ceremonial recognitions; no formal policy decisions were taken as part of these proclamations and awards.
