Pharr, Texas – During today’s Pharr City Commission meeting, Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and city leaders announced that City Clerk Hilda Pedraza and Human Resources Director Anali Alanis have been promoted to new Assistant City Managers. The promotions come as Pharr moves to improve the city’s organizational structure to better serve the needs of the community.
“When evaluating performance for consideration of promotions, decisionmakers traditionally reward past performance and results,” said Hernandez. “In Pharr, we have adopted a more forward-thinking mentality as we evaluate the types of leaders we want to cultivate,” he continued. “We not only look at what they have done, but what they can do,” he added.
Known for their passion, drive, and leadership, both Pedraza and Alanis have dedicated over ten years of service to the city and citizens of Pharr. They have been recognized for their work as they continue to evolve and climb the ranks not only within their respective positions and fields but also academically. Both women were recently featured by their alma maters, South Texas College (STC) and the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), for their tenacity and determination to continue their higher education while devoting their professional careers to public service.
Hilda Pedraza City ClerkAnali Alanis Human Resources Director
Pedraza holds an Associate of Applied Science in Public Administration Degree from STC, is certified as a Texas Registered Municipal Clerk, and is currently working on obtaining her Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership from STC. Alanis earned an Associate of Business Administration and Bachelor of Applied Technology Management from STC, and also obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from UTRGV. Both are Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certified.
“These types of leaders are always learning, growing, and adapting to a fast-paced and ever-changing environment,” Hernandez said. “Their leadership is the key to our success and sustainability and will keep Pharr moving forward across generations of administrations,” he added. “We are proud of their dedication and passion and cannot wait to see the innovative, collaborative, and forward-thinking service and leadership they will provide in these new capacities alongside our City Manager, Alex Meade,” he stated.
All Pharr Department Directors Trained and Certified in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt; Pharr is the First Government Entity Trained through this Program
Pharr, Texas – As part of its efforts to maximize productivity and to reduce inefficiencies in government operations, Pharr city leaders have made it a priority to ensure all employees are functioning at their highest level of effectiveness. Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., has implemented a business-oriented mentality in the workplace, streamlining government services to better serve Pharr constituents. As such, city officials partnered with the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley’s Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) to have all department heads go through a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training and certification program. The training was held over two days last week and was provided by TMAC. According to TMAC, Pharr is the first government entity that it has trained through this program, which is typically utilized by companies in the manufacturing industry.
The Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training and certification program provides participants a two-day, in-depth overview on the concepts and methodologies of Lean Six Sigma (known as LSS) and the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) process. According to TMAC, this program is beneficial for those who would like to become familiarized with Lean Six Sigma and how it can impact an organization by effectively supporting improvement efforts in their organization. Key points covered in this training include determining customer value, defining and identifying waste, understanding standard deviation and sigma levels, roles and levels of LSS Belts, defining variance, repeatability and accuracy.
“Pharr is leading the way to better serve our community, and we are always searching for ways to improve our delivery of government services,” said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “By thinking outside of the box and looking toward proven methods that have worked in other industries, we can implement these operational procedures and make them work for us in government, ultimately benefiting our community and the citizens we serve,” Hernandez continued. “I am proud of our staff’s commitment to continue striving toward excellence and for adopting our administration’s focus on ensuring we are providing the best service to our community,” he added.
TMAC Business Development and Continuous Improvement Specialist Jesus Cano agreed. “There has always been the common misconception that Lean and Six Sigma only apply to manufacturing settings, but many other industries and governmental entities have reaped the benefits from utilizing these tools and concepts,” said Cano. “We’re excited and commend the City of Pharr for taking this initiative to learn these powerful tools, this clearly shows the commitment they have to the people and city of Pharr!” Cano added.
About TMAC
TMAC is an affiliate of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) which falls under the U.S. Department of Commerce. TMAC is hosted at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (previously UTPA) under the College of Engineering and Computer Science and has been in service for over 20 years. Our main goal is to assist small to medium-sized U.S manufacturing companies to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, become more efficient and ultimately save time and money. TMAC does this by providing open enrollment trainings and certifications in the areas of Lean, Quality, Six Sigma, Safety, Strategic Planning, Smart Manufacturing, Cybersecurity and many more. It also develops customized trainings depending on the customer’s needs and provides consulting and/or coaching services.
South Texas College welcomed the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) to its Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence Oct. 10. Secret Service Social Science Research Specialist Steven Driscoll (above) presented a four-hour course on research, training, and consultation on threat assessment and the prevention of targeted violence.
Pharr, TX (Oct. 16, 2019) – A recent training on identifying potential threats within schools has proved to be invaluable, especially for law enforcement within local ISDs, according to organizers of a National Threat Assessment Center Presentation Oct. 10.
The South Texas College Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) hosted more than 100 law enforcement officers and representatives from various agencies, cities and ISDs who attended a four-hour course provided by personnel from the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), a component of the U.S. Secret Service.
NTAC specializes in research, training, and consultation on threat assessment and the prevention of targeted violence. It offered an intensive look into mitigating threats for those in attendance.
Secret Service Special Agent in Charge at the San Antonio Field Office Paul Duran and Resident Agent in Charge at McAllen’s Secret Service office Brian Gibson helped coordinate the presentation. Pharr mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez gave opening remarks to attendees.
“We want to make sure we have this type of education available to the entire Rio Grande Valley,” said Mayor Hernandez. “We believe strongly in law enforcement, and we believe strongly that at the core of our great democracy is faith. We have faith in our law enforcement training, and we know you put your life at risk every single day.
“We are so grateful for what you do, and the City of Pharr will always be here to help any and all law enforcement as well as this campus,” he said.
NTAC’s presentation at RCPSE addressed topics including identifying possible potential threats, investigating and gathering information, assessing poses of threats or violence, developing risk management strategies and interventions, and interactive case studies.
The training was provided free of charge, and was open to school resource officers, police investigators, school administrators, school counselors, school psychologists or anyone else potentially involved in a risk detection/management position.
“Threat assessment is something that is in the DNA of the Secret Service, it’s something that every agent, office, and analyst does,” said Secret Service Social Science Research Specialist Steven Driscoll. “This program is something we have been doing for decades, instituting best practices at school districts.”
Despite extensive research on the subject, there remains no accurate “profile” of students who engaged in targeted school violence, according to NTAC.
Between 2015 and 2016, there were 827,030 incidents of crime in school ranging from simple assaults to serious violent incidents nationwide, according to NTAC citing figures from U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Acting RCPSE campus administrator Sgt. Jose Moroles expressed that the training was invaluable, especially for law enforcement within schools.
“Some of the training dealt with identifying potential threats and students who may be exhibiting concerning behaviors, as well as investigating and gathering information on the background and behaviors of concerning students,” Moroles said. “The course was extremely useful for threat assessment training for school officials.”
STC’s RCPSE provides training for local, county, state and federal professionals in law enforcement, public safety, fire science, and homeland security along the US/Mexico border.
STC is dedicated to providing excellence in educational programs and accessibility to a diverse population. The RCPSE campus specializes in continuous opportunities for professional growth and access to training. The center also serves to strengthen public safety, and benefit those who make public service a career.
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a regular meeting on Monday, October 7, 2019, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:
City Proclaims October 23 – 31 as Red Ribbon Week
Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and City Commissioners approved a proclamation recognizing October 23-31, 2019 as Red Ribbon Week. Pharr joins the City of San Juan, City of Alamo, PSJA ISD, Rio Grande Valley Council, INC., and Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas in observing the national drug-free week initiative. The Red Ribbon Campaign was established by Congress in 1988 to promote this belief and encourage a drug-free lifestyle and involvement in drug prevention efforts in commemoration of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent, who was murdered in the line of duty and has come to represent the belief that one person CAN make a difference. The city calls upon all citizens of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo to participate in year-round drug-free activities.
City Approves MOU with Texas Parks and Wildlife for $5 million Grant for the Multi-Specialty Facility
Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and Pharr City Commissioners approved an MOU with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a $5 million grant for the development of the Multi-Specialty Facility in the City of Pharr. The 2020-2021 General Appropriations Act, enacted by the 86th Texas Legislature (House Bill 1), included Rider 37 within the appropriations to TPWD, which appropriated from General Revenue, $5,000,000 (the Funds) in fiscal year 2020 for the purpose of making a grant to the City.
Commission Approves Ordinance Amending Fees for City Rental Facilities
Pharr Commissioners approved an Ordinance amending Ordinance No. O-2018-37 (rental of city facilities). The new ordinance establishes a new category (Non-commercial / Private) under Class I of rental fees and shall apply to any and all activities sponsored by private entities to which admission might be restricted, but to which an admission fee will not be charged and profit-making is not intended. These activities may include weddings, quinceañeras, receptions, birthday parties, and company banquets, etc. Changes to the ordinance have been made to reflect the recent renovations to the Civic Center which now has more capacity and boasts one Large Hall with rental fees starting at $400 and ranging to $2,000, one Small Hall ranging from $50 to $100, Conference Room A ranging from $40 to $60, and Conference Room B ranging from $30 to $40. All prices depend on the class (Class I Commercial / Profit-making or Class II Non-Commercial/non-profit-making) and the time of the event. Other changes made to the ordinance include a minimum requirement of two certified City of Pharr Police Officers to be contracted by the renter and allowing Class I reservations to be made up to one year in advance of the reserved date.
Commission Approves Resolution in Support of Proposition 8
Commissioners approved a resolution in support of Proposition 8. House Joint Resolution 4 proposes a constitutional amendment, also known as Proposition 8 (“Prop. 8”), allowing for the creation of the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) that would authorize $793 million in flood-control projects in the State of Texas. The Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) is a statewide, cooperative effort for regional flood planning, mitigation, and infrastructure projects to make Texas “future-proof.” The entire State of Texas stands to benefit from the proposed FIF, which would help alleviate flooding, improve drainage infrastructure, and provide for the state’s first-ever flood infrastructure fund. “Our state and our communities stand to greatly benefit from this fund,” said Mayor Hernandez. “We want to remind citizens that this is money that will be drawn down from the state’s “Rainy Day Fund” and will not have an impact on our taxes, grants, or contributions as a community,” he continued. “We all stand to gain from this and it behooves to help ourselves, our city, and our state in support of Proposition 8.”
Commissioners Approve Petition to Contract Pharr’s Election with the Hidalgo County Elections Department
Commissioners approved the petition to contract Pharr’s election with the Hidalgo County Elections Department. On September 11, 2019, the City of Pharr received a Petition for Election Services Contract with Hidalgo County signed by 59 individuals. The petition has been reviewed by the City Clerk and City Attorney and was forwarded to the Hidalgo County Elections Administrator to verify the names on the petition as requested by voters residing in the city of Pharr. Per Section 31.092, the City of Pharr has requested an election services contract with the County Elections Administrator to conduct a uniform/general Election to be held in 2020.
Traditional Cutting of the Fruit (l to r) – Texas State Representative Sergio Muñoz, Jr., Texas State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., Consul de Mexico in McAllen Socorro Guadalupe Jorge Cholula, Chairman of the Pharr International Bridge Board Edgar Delgadillo, and Pharr Bridge Director Luis Bazan.
Pharr, Texas – Surrounded by brightly displayed fresh fruits and vegetables, the City of Pharr kicked-off the start of the 2019-2020 Produce Season at the Pharr International Bridge alongside dignitaries and produce growers, importers, distributors, and consumers from the United States and Mexico.
“Pharr takes great pride in being the largest land port of entry for fruits and vegetables,” remarked Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. at the start of the event. “We have invested in our bridge infrastructure and technology, continue to increase our produce imports, improve crossings and wait times of commercial vehicles and have worked closely with our partners at the state and federal levels to ensure that our port of entry continues to expand capacity and meet the demands of our growing economy,” he continued. “Produce plays an integral role in our regional and international economy, and here in Pharr we are proud to be the gateway for these products as they enter into the United States and get distributed to the rest of the nation,” he added.
The Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge has evolved into the largest land port for fruits and vegetables in the nation, surpassing Nogales, Arizona as the leading port of entry for Mexican produce and goods. Currently, the Pharr International Bridge crosses more than 60% of all the fresh produce coming from Mexico through Texas land ports of entry.
“The Pharr International Bridge has forged strong partnerships on both sides of the border with distributors, growers, and importers, to ensure that we are meeting the demands of the industry,” said Pharr Bridge Director Luiz Bazan. “Although we experienced a few rough months during the threatened closing of the border, we came up with innovative schedules for our commercial trucks which paid off,” he continued. “Our figures show that we have already exceeded the number of trucks and produce that entered through Pharr this year compared to the same period last year,” added Bazan. “Pharr continues to invest, plan, and work together with all our partners to expand our opportunities.”
The U.S. has consistently remained Mexico’s No. 1 trading partner for produce and goods and Pharr’s ideal geographical location has resulted in not only a great partnership between the two countries, but also in the growth of their produce trading capacity.
