Special Meeting 08/30/06 1 SPECIAL MEETING ... - City of Harlingen

Special Meeting 

08/30/06 

SPECIAL MEETING 

CITY COMMISSION 

HARLINGEN, TEXAS 

AUGUST 30, 2006 

A Special Meeting of the Harlingen Elective Commission was held on Wednesday, 

August 30, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in Town Hall, City Hall, 118 E. Tyler Street, Harlingen, 

Texas. Those in attendance were: 

Mayor and City Commission 

Mayor Rick Rodriguez 

Eddie Medrano 

Larry Galbreath 

Bobby Farris 

Jay Meade 

Chris Boswell 

Staff Present: 

Craig Lonon, City Manager 

Brendan Hall, City Attorney 

Sylvia R. Trevino, City Secretary 

Mayor Rodriguez called the meeting to order and stated that notice of the meeting had 

been duly posted according to law. 

Commissioner Medrano delivered the invocation. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE HEARD REGARDING THE TONY 

BUTLER GOLF COURSE 

Mayor Rodriguez thanked the audience for being at the meeting. He stated that the topic 

of the Golf Course is not on the agenda but because of the large audience present he 

would allow a few persons to speak. Mayor Rodriguez informed the audience that he, 

too, was against the idea of utilizing the Golf Course for soccer fields. 

Ron Lozano stated it behooves us to foster a rewarding sport and stated that golf is the 

only sport where ethics is internalized. 

Sam Lozano, former Mayor, stated that back in 1962 Harlingen was hard pressed for jobs 

due to the closure of the Air Base. The city leaders saw an opportunity to bring in 

tourists and allowed Fun and Sun to locate at the base and Casa de Amistad was also 

built. Harlingen’s assets were the Confederate Air Force, the Marine Military Academy 

and the Tony Butler Golf Course. Mr. Lozano stated that there is plenty of land available 

for soccer fields and a police station. He stated that he hopes and prays that the 

Commission leaves the Golf Course alone. 

1



Joe Galvan pointed out several reasons why the Golf Course should be left alone: 1) it 

operates at a profit. Without its revenues it would operate at a loss of $133,000 and 

would eventually have to shut down. 2) the cost of leveling the grounds for soccer fields 

or a police station would be enormous 3) he stated that Commissioner Medrano opposes 

the location across from the landfill due to its stench----then why was the land purchased 

by the City Mr. Galvan stated that the proposal by Commissioner Medrano has more 

‘malodor’ than the sewer plant itself. He stated that the City Commission should give the 

Winter Texans an opportunity to express their opinions. Mr. Galvan stated that in talking 

with Larry Kruse from the School District, Mr. Kruse indicated that the schools would 

also be affected. Mr. Galvan stated that the City owns 83 acres of underutilized land on 

Harrison Street. Mr. Galvan pointed out that Commissioner Meade had commented that 

the Police Department, if located at Victor Park, could be showcased and be a civic pride 

for Harlingen----why showcase the Police Department when the existing one has been so 

old for many years The Tony Butler Golf Course is the ‘average’ person’s golf course 

for those that are on fixed incomes and those that are retired. He stated that proposal 

needs to be ‘scuttled’. 

John Hukill stated that many people realize the quality of this executive golf course. He 

will not play golf anywhere else and it is the finest in the Valley. He stated he had asked 

around how much it would cost to build a golf course and he stated he had been given a 

figure of $9 million per hole. “What you are saying is tear up $9 million of taxpayers’ 

monies.” He stated that the Commission does not realize how many Winter Texans come 

here to play golf and it would not be good for Harlingen to tear up the Golf Course. 

Mike Wiggins, referring to holes 19-27, stated that those holes are still available for play 

when tournaments are played. This is what those 9 holes are needed for. The City has 

made major improvements to the Golf Course and it is a very valuable commodity for the 

community. Harlingen does need a Police Station but not on this land. 

Commissioner Medrano told the crowd how pleased he was to have them present tonight 

to express their comments and opinions. On the other hand he told the audience that he 

had never seen their presence at budget workshops where the Commission is trying to do 

many things with only a $4 million budget. He is trying to figure out how to stretch 

every dollar. It will take at least $3.5 million to build a Police Station and soccer fields. 

He felt that the idea was---why not utilize the land already in existence at the Golf 

Course It is an idea that needs to be studied and could be a viable option. The bond 

election of 2003 was for capital improvements of which the voters approved some 

projects and others were not. Because the city will be retiring some debt the city will be 

able to do some projects with a very small increase to the tax rate. 

There were other comments of opposition expressed by some members of the audience 

who did not identify themselves. 

Mr. Soultaire offered a public apology to Commissioner Medrano for getting upset 

when he spoke to him about the Golf Course. Mr. Soultaire stated that Harlingen is a fine 

2



city and asked that the Commission not destroy it----do what is prudent but the Golf 

Course is not the right place for soccer fields. 

Mayor Rodriguez thanked everyone for his or her participation. 

Commissioner Boswell explained to the audience that this is not an agenda item therefore 

the Commission cannot take any action. He stated he wants it to be made clear that this 

is a plan that the Commission had been discussing but the Commission has not had a 

called meeting on the subject and no one has taken any action. When that occurs 

everyone will be invited to attend as well as the Pan American Golf Association. 

(1 st ) PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST THE 

PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE CITY OF HARLINGEN FOR FISCAL YEAR 

2006-07 IN THE AMOUNT OF $0.430154 FOR MAINTENANCE AND 

OPERATION AND $0.159846 FOR INTEREST AND SINKING FOR A TOTAL 

RATE OF $0.590000 PER $100 IN VALUE 

With no further comments on the Golf Course, Mayor Rodriguez declared the public 

hearing open to hear comments for or against the proposed tax rate for the City of 

Harlingen for fiscal year 2006-07 in the amount of $0.430154 for maintenance and 

operation and $0.159846 for interest and sinking for a total rate of $0.590000 per $100 in 

value for a proposed total tax revenue increase of 6.986199%. 

Craig Lonon, City Manager, stated that the proposed tax rate is $0.590000, which is a 

lesser rate than the current rate, and this is due to additional properties in the City that 

generated more revenue. 

There being no comments from the public Mayor Rodriguez declared the public hearing 

closed. 

Craig Lonon reminded the Commission that the next required public hearing would be on 

September 6, 2006 at 5:30 p.m and the next budget workshop is on September 6 at 3:30 

p.m. The first public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for September 19 at 

5:30 p.m. 

Commissioner Medrano proposed a joint meeting between the City Commission and the 

Development Corporation. All were in agreement to have this meeting on September 13, 

2006 at 5:30 p.m. 

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. 

__________________________ 

Rick Rodriguez, Mayor 

3



Attest: 

______________________________ 

Sylvia R. Trevino, City Secretary 

4

Special Meeting 08/30/06 1 SPECIAL MEETING ... - City of Harlingen

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?