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Brownfield council appoints Vasquez to BEDC board, clears first reading of Ace Hardware agreement
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Brownfield City Council appointed Council Member Paul Vasquez to the Brownfield Type B Economic Development Corporation board to fill an unexpired term, approved multiple quarterly reports and conducted the first reading of a Type B economic development agreement with Ace Hardware Brownfield. The council recessed to executive session on litigation, utility competitive matters and personnel and took no action on return.
The Brownfield City Council on Jan. 8 unanimously appointed Council Member Paul Vasquez to the Brownfield Type B Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) board and approved routine quarterly reports, while conducting the first reading of an economic development agreement with Ace Hardware Brownfield, TX.
Mayor Eric Horton said the council would fill the BEDC vacancy created by the unexpired term of Mary Valdonado. Two council members had expressed interest. Council Member Tom Hesse nominated Council Member Marshall Martell; a show-of-hands initially favored Vasquez, and Council Member Ray McFarland moved, with a second from Mayor Pro Tem J.C. Tijerina, to appoint Paul Vasquez. The motion carried with Council Members Tijerina, Hesse, Vasquez, Vanessa Valdonado, Gamez, McFarland and Mayor Horton voting “Aye.”
The appointment changes the council’s representation on the BEDC board; under the BEDC bylaws a minimum of five directors must be non–City Council members while up to two directors may be council members. The appointee will fill the remainder of the term previously held by Mary Valdonado.
Council Member Tom Hesse moved, seconded by Council Member Lee Gamez, to approve the minutes of the Dec. 18, 2025 meeting. The council took the same motion format to approve three quarterly reports: the Visitor Information Center financial report (presented by Lorena Valencia of the Brownfield Chamber of Commerce) under Hotel-Motel Tax funding; the police department quarterly report (presented by Chief Chris Kotzur) covering calls for service, investigations, animal control, 911 dispatch and emergency management; and the code enforcement quarterly report (presented by Code Enforcement Officer Rick Guerra). Each approval passed on an affirmative vote recorded as "Aye" by all voting members.
On economic development, the council conducted the first of two required readings of Resolution No. 20260108, which presents an Economic Development Agreement negotiated between the Brownfield Type B Economic Development Corporation and Ace Hardware Brownfield, TX. The resolution states the proposed agreement would use Type B sales tax funds to support economic development activities consistent with the Texas Local Government Code for Type B corporations. Council Member Hesse moved, with a second from Council Member Vanessa Valdonado, to approve the first reading and set the matter for a second reading and final consideration at a future meeting.
At 7:57 A.M. the council recessed into executive session under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 (consultation with attorney regarding pending or contemplated litigation), 551.086 (certain public power utilities competitive matters regarding a power purchase agreement) and 551.074 (personnel matters regarding the City Manager). The minutes state that Council Member Hesse left the meeting before the executive session began. The council returned from executive session and took no action on the matters discussed.
The meeting ended after mayoral announcements and adjournment. The council minutes record the actions and indicate the second reading for Resolution No. 20260108 will be scheduled separately.
