Edinburg officials detailed the city’s priorities for the upcoming state legislative session.
During a city council meeting this week, Edinburg City Attorney Omar Ochoa laid out a set of priorities that the city has adopted for the Texas legislative session which begins next week.
Ochoa presented a draft of those priorities which were put together following feedback from city departments and from the community. That community input was compiled from town hall meetings and a survey the city conducted last year.
The compiled priorities fall into seven categories — community safety, health and medical care, development/infrastructure, education, economic development, quality of life, and local government.
For economic development, they will support legislation that provides “meaningful tax relief,” that empowers local governments to remove barriers to low-income housing and increase the local affordable housing stock.
City officials would oppose any laws that would reduce the authority of city government to enforce development-related regulations such as land use, permitting, and inspections.
Also regarding local government, they would oppose bills that cause the city to lose revenue or would restrict their authority to generate revenue.
They would also support the continuation of local and state incentives that would help cities recruit employers, investments in educational and job placement programs, and they would support legislation that would enhance “an effective and sustainable” education system from early childhood.
When it comes to infrastructure, they support resources for flood mitigation and drainage improvements and legislation that would help address the city’s rapid growth.
Councilman Dan Diaz said flooding will always be a top issue.
“We’re a very low-lying area and we want to make sure that there’s monies for infrastructure,” Diaz said. “Edinburg in particular, we want to make sure that there’s money for, hopefully, to improve our airport, improve our airport and improve our roads.”
Public safety was top-of-mind for Councilman Johnny Garcia.
“I feel we need more money to come to our area for more law enforcement, more equipment for law enforcement, for fire because we have so many developments coming in,” Garcia said, “and you need some kind of infrastructure that’s going to help those areas with water lines, sewage, drainage, paving.”
Under community safety, the city listed increased community and neighborhood policing resources, intervention and victim protection programs, expanded social services and emergency management recovery assistance as their priorities.
For Councilman Jason De Leon, one of the most important efforts is the improvement of quality of life in the city.
“I really want to bring more funding for entertainment down here, especially in Edinburg; I think that’s something that we’ve been lacking,” De Leon said.
“We have UTRGV, we have hospitals, we have a bunch of residences from resident multi-family townhomes to beautiful subdivisions,” he added. “So in order for us to get more night life … so they don’t have to go to other cities, I think that’s something that is one of my biggest focuses.”
Officially, the city adopted the support for funding parks and recreation facilities, the expansion of museums and cultural arts amenities, more hike and bike trails and the preservation of green spaces as their quality of life priorities.
They also support the removal of health care barriers for low income, vulnerable communities and legislation that would encourage responsible pet ownership.
Education-related bills they would support are those that would expand broadband coverage, provide for suitable education facilities and educators, increase access to student meal programs, and support education programs that are in line with in-demand jobs.
Mayor Ramiro Garza said he would like to also keep an eye on legislation having to do with land annexation, that provided property tax relief, and that regulated political signs.
The next stop for the council would be to adopt these priorities through a resolution, officially listing them as the city’s official position on those issues.
In November, the city council approved a $120,000 contract with a lobbying firm, Pathfinder Public Affairs, to help carry out the city’s legislative agenda.
The state legislative session, which is held every two years, begins on Tuesday and ends on May 29. State legislators have already begun filing bills and the last day to do so is March 10.
