by media | Jan 19, 2021 | Featured News, Media Releases
Pharr to Host State of the City “Together: Honoring Our First Responders” on Thu. 1/21 @ 1:30 pm
Pharr, Texas – Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and the Pharr City Commission are proud to announce that the city will host its annual State of the City virtually on Thursday, January 21, 2021, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. The event will be broadcast on the city’s website at https://old.pharr-tx.com/state-of-the-city/.
“As is tradition, the State of the City is a time to celebrate what we have accomplished in the previous year and share our goals for the upcoming year and for what is in store for Pharr’s future,” said Mayor Hernandez.
This year, Pharr’s State of the City theme is “Together: Honoring our First Responders”.
“We will honor and recognize the sacrifice and dedicated efforts of all the first responders – medical personnel, law enforcement, emergency medical providers, and more – working on the frontline to fight the pandemic,” he continued. “Our first responders are our heroes, and we appreciate and honor them for the sacrifices they make to save our lives,” said Hernandez.
An unprecedented year that challenged the entire world as together we faced the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 saw the City of Pharr navigating a new normal. Our Pharr community persevered and together, we worked side-by-side with our first responders to focus on the safety and health of our citizens, while also working with our local businesses to tackle the financial and economic challenges brought on by the pandemic. In a year unlike any other in recent history, Pharr continued to remain resilient and committed to its citizens.
The City of Pharr is proud to highlight its 2020 accomplishments and showcase city projects, improvements, and quality of life projects worked on throughout the year that enhance opportunities and experiences for all Pharr families, businesses, and partners.
DETAILS
WHAT: City of Pharr State of the City “Together: Honoring our First Responders”
WHEN: Thursday, January 21, 2021 @ 1:30 pm
WHERE: City of Pharr’s website at https://old.pharr-tx.com/state-of-the-city/
by media | Jan 4, 2021 | Media Releases, News
Presidential Permit Approved by President Trump for Expansion of Pharr International Bridge
Pharr, Texas – Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and City of Pharr officials are excited to announce that on December 31, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued a presidential permit for the expansion of the Pharr International Bridge. The news comes after a brief yet influential period of impressing upon the federal government the urgency and need for the expansion by city leaders, U.S. senators, and other key stakeholders. The 2020 permit amends the current permit to allow for the addition of another bridge at the international port of entry. This second span will give Pharr a competitive advantage by adding additional lanes to completely separate trucks and cars, dedicating specific lanes for empties, full cargo, certified cargo, and passenger vehicles, thereby adding capacity and reducing wait times. With this permit, Pharr will now have an official gate-to-gate FAST lane, or set of FAST lanes, from Mexico to the United States.
Typically, a permit process can take multiple years before approval; Pharr’s application was fast-tracked due to the dedicated efforts of city leaders and staff, consulting engineers Structural Engineering Associates, Inc., and others, who prioritized this project and worked diligently with U.S. and Mexican officials, despite the challenges of being in the midst of a global pandemic. The City of Pharr worked with Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and their staff on this project, which began in September 2019 with a meeting between Pharr’s team and the White House arranged by Senator Cruz. Senator Cornyn led efforts and coordinated meetings between Pharr and the U. S. Department of State, which led to the formal notification to the U.S. Department of State in April 2020 of Pharr’s intent to expand the international bridge. Between April and August of 2020, Pharr leaders and representatives consulted with major U. S. and Mexican stakeholders, culminating in more than 60 letters of support from elected officials at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The project also received support from all major transportation and trade associations, border infrastructure groups, and private industry partners that utilize the bridge on a daily basis. The Pharr City Commission authorized the submission of the presidential permit amendment application to the U. S. Department of State, which was submitted on September 30, 2020, and just three months later, the permit was issued.
“It is unprecedented that a sitting President of the United States grants a Presidential Permit Amendment with record time, and we thank him for doing so,” said Mayor Hernandez. “This new year began on a positive note with the issuing of this permit for the expansion of the Pharr International Bridge,” Hernandez continued. “The City of Pharr is appreciative of the diligent efforts made possible by the government relations and bridge teams at the city level, in coordination with Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, which opened the doors of communication with our presidential administration and federal agencies to accomplish this goal with unprecedented speed due to the forthright and transparent communication regarding the need and urgency of this project,” he continued.
“This permit amends the current permit to allow for the expansion of the Pharr International Bridge, and will further support the record numbers of international trade and commerce that transpires on our port of entry,” Hernandez added. “It is a wonderful new year, indeed!” he continued.
“Pharr’s ports of entry serve as a gateway for billions of dollars in cross-border trade that benefits our state’s economy,” said Senator Cornyn. “Expanding the Pharr International Bridge will enhance trade and travel and benefit all who use the facility,” he added.
Senator Cruz remarked, “Texas is home to some of the nation’s busiest border crossings and the Pharr International Bridge serves as an important port of entry to facilitate the United States’ trade and commerce with Mexico. I am grateful the Trump Administration recognized the importance of expanding the Pharr International Bridge to further enhance the U.S.-Mexico trade partnership and increase commerce between the two nations,” Senator Cruz said. “I’d like to commend the leadership of Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez, City of Pharr City Council, the staff at the City of Pharr, and community leaders for their diligent work on this project and working with our office to help ensure this project was permitted in record time. I was proud to support the Pharr International Bridge expansion project as millions of jobs, in Texas and across the country, depend upon trade with Mexico. I will continue working to ensure future trade opportunities benefit Texas and put American jobs first.”
The Presidential Permit issued on December 31, 2020, can be found at:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-permit-123120/
by media | Dec 18, 2020 | Featured News, Information, Media Releases
Join us for Live Music by Group 2C41 at The HUB Food Truck Park in Downtown Pharr TOMORROW, Dec. 19 from 8-10 PM
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr and the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce that local performers 2C41 will be playing live music at The Hub Food Truck Park in downtown Pharr from 8-10 pm. Families are encouraged to visit The Hub to grab a bite to eat, enjoy the holiday atmosphere, and listen to this amazing group of local performers.
“The City of Pharr is proud to support music and we are especially thrilled to now offer our local musicians a platform in which they can showcase their talents,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “This is an extremely talented group made up of four local family members, and I know our community will enjoy listening to their music,” added Hernandez. “We encourage all families to enjoy our new downtown parks, food trucks and enjoy the show while safely social distancing and wearing masks,” he said.
The new City of Pharr downtown parks are a great attraction for the community with many coming out to enjoy the Christmas decorations and grabbing a bite to eat at The Hub. The City of Pharr invites you to come watch the performance and enjoy our beautiful new parks.
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS
WHAT: Live Music by Group 2C41 at The HUB Food Truck Park in Downtown Pharr
WHEN: Saturday, December 19, 2020, from 8-10 pm
WHERE: The Hub Food Truck Park in Downtown Pharr (118 S. Cage Blvd)
by media | Dec 16, 2020 | Featured News, Media Releases
Pharr PD & Partners Working to Create Mental Health Unit
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr Police Department is pleased to announce that it is working with the local health authority, Tropical Texas Behavioral Health, to develop a Mental Health Unit in Pharr’s police force. This week, the department is currently training licensed mental health officers that will comprise the unit. The purpose of the Mental Health Officer Training (TCOLE 4001) course is to further inform and educate the officer in the areas of mental health and issues pertaining to serving as a mental health officer, to include advanced crisis intervention. The training will be held all week, December 14-18, 2020.
The Mental Health Officers Training will be conducted by Ernie Stevens, an officer with the San Antonio Police Department, who is one of two officers featured in a 2020 HBO documentary, “Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops,” which chronicles the officers as they respond to mental health calls around San Antonio. According to the documentary’s website, the film is “an intimate portrait of two Texas police officers who are helping change the way police respond to mental health calls.” View more information on the HBO Documentary here >>.
Media is invited to attend and cover the live training, which will include role-play and realistic scenarios, between 10 am to 11 am on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at the Pharr Police Department (1900 S. Cage) in Pharr. Officials will be on-hand and available for interviews at a press conference at 11 am. Notable attendees include Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., Pharr Police Chief Andy Harvey, Tropical Texas Behavioral Health CEO Terry Crocker and staff, San Antonio Police Officer and Trainer Ernie Stevens, and Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez.
“Today’s policing demands our officers understand mental illness on a deeper level,” said Chief Harvey. “When the police are called to resolve situations where individuals are dealing with a crisis, we are more effective at helping the person when we work together with highly trained medical personnel and other agencies,” he continued, adding, “Arrests are usually not the best option in these cases.”
“Pharr is committed to providing our officers with the tools necessary to be able to identify situations that might have underlying mental health issues, and be able to respond to these types of sensitive situations to get individuals in crisis the appropriate help and resources they need,” added Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D.
“We are fortunate to have forward-thinking leaders in our city and region to make these partnerships a reality,” stated Chief Harvey.
A study from the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) found that a large percentage of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse. Aligning with its adoption of core values and a social contract with the community, the Pharr Police Department is making an effort to ramp up compassionate responses to calls regarding individuals who may be experiencing a crisis, especially during the holiday season.
“I applaud Pharr’s commitment to having its police force develop an understanding of some of the underlying causes and manifestations of mental illness so that they can be better equipped with the knowledge and tools to assist individuals in the field who may be in crisis,” said District Attorney Rodriguez. “Together, this partnership will help to give people in crisis access to the help and support they need, and ultimately, save lives,” he added.
Tropical Texas’ CEO Terry Crocker echoed the sentiment regarding the positive influence the mental health unit will bring to the community of Pharr. “It is an honor for Tropical to assist law enforcement in improving their skills when it comes to dealing with mental health situations,” stated Crocker. “After this training, I look forward to a long term partnership with Pharr Police Department and the mental health unit, and I believe that together we can make a significant and positive impact in the community,” he added.
Officer Stevens will utilize his expertise to deliver the training to members of Pharr’s police force. The training will be hands-on, scenario-based, and role-played with realistic, real-life situations that police officers may encounter in the field. Representatives from Tropical Texas Behavioral Health Center’s Mental Health Officer Team (MHOT) will also be on hand to assist with the training.
Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., Chief Andy Harvey, Officer Ernie Stevens, Tropical Texas’ CEO Terry Crocker, and Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez will be on-hand and available for interviews at a press conference at 11 am on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at the Pharr Police Department (1900 S. Cage Blvd.) in Pharr. Media outlets interested in attending are welcome to film footage of the live training prior to the press conference, between 10 am and 11 am.
DETAILS
Who: Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D.
Pharr Police Chief Andy Harvey
Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez
San Antonio PD Officer Ernie Stevens (from HBO Documentary “Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops”)
Representatives from Tropical Texas Behavioral Health
What: Mental Health Officer Training
When: Thursday, December 17, 2020, at 11 am (Media invited to film & cover training between 10 and 11 am)
Where: Pharr Police Department, 1900 S. Cage Blvd., Pharr, TX
by media | Dec 15, 2020 | Featured News, Media Releases
City Recognizes First Responders Who Helped with COVID-19 Response Efforts in El Paso
Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. and the Pharr City Commission recognized six first responders from the city for their efforts in assisting the State of Texas Emergency Management Taskforce in their efforts against COVID-19 in El Paso. The team answered the request made by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Division of Emergency Management to assist with response efforts in El Paso. They joined first responders from throughout the state with medical personnel and equipment to address the surge of COVID-19 cases. Pharr Fire Chief Leonardo Perez introduced the responders during the city meeting, they are Engineer Juan F. Martinez, Volunteer Firefighter David Gonzalez Jr., Moises Arellanta, Volunteer Firefighter Alicia Cano, Firefighter Hector Garcia, and Volunteer Firefighter Richar Garcia. “All these six people did an excellent job of representing our city in El Paso and assisting their respective teams with Covid response efforts,” said Chief Perez. “I did receive letters from state officials and a phone call from Bernardino Palacios the Program Director of the EMPF and John Phillips the regional coordinator praising our people for their service out there,” added Perez. “Thank you ladies and gentlemen for your great work, I know you put your lives at risk out there every single day and we are appreciative of the great work you did in assisting the City of El Paso,” said Mayor Hernandez.
Commissioners Approve Ordinance to Close Right-Of-Way
Pharr City Commissioners approved an Ordinance directing the City Manager to vacate, abandon, and close a portion of street Right-Of-Way, being a portion of E. Sharm Dr., located between Lots 1 and 2, Tip-O-Texas Subdivision. The Board of Commissioners determined that it is in the public interest that the City vacate, abandon and close a portion of a street right-of-way being a portion of E. Sharm Drive located between Lots 1 and 2, Tip-o-Texas Subdivision.
Commissioners Approve Ordinance to Close Right-Of-Way
Pharr City Commissioners approved a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit and execute a grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for grant funding under the FY2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities (BRIC) program. Funding is being sought from FEMA in the amount of $8,542,500 (75%) for the Southeast Pharr Drainage Mitigation Project Phase I. The proposed project comes from the Master Drainage Plan and is estimated to cost a total of $11,390,000. The remaining balance of $2,847,500 (25%) is to be paid with local funds.
Update on City Wide Drainage Master Plan
The City of Pharr has been proactive in identifying areas of concern throughout the city as they continue to seek funding for their Drainage Master Plan. “Over the last few years, we have been working to bring our drainage system up to par,” said Mayor Hernandez “We are investing a significant amount of money to ensure that we have an effective and safe system that works for our residents,” added Hernandez. He went on to identify the area of Sugar Road and Egley Road as a significant concern being that when the subdivision was developed, it was built with no inlets, which means that water has nowhere to go. City Engineer Omar Anzaldua also said his department has identified several issues at Sugar Road which will be addressed. Mayor Hernandez also added that the city is working with PSJA ISD to address drainage issues.
Pharr to Expand Hike and Bike Trail
The City of Pharr will be building on the existing Hike and Bike Trail that the county has done. As announced by City Manager Ed Wylie during the city meeting, Pharr plans to expand the trail by nine miles starting south of I Road all the way to Military Road and east to Santa Ana. Commissioner approved the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a contract with GDJ Engineering, from the list of qualified firms, for the Design of the Veterans Rd./Hike & Bike Expansion Project.
Commission Approves Second Amendment to the CARES Act Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the County of Hidalgo
Pharr Commissioners approved a second amendment to the CARES Act Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the County of Hidalgo. “Through the initial agreement, we were allotted $114 per person which totaled $7 million dollars for the City of Pharr for COVID-related expenses from the federal government through the county,” said City Manager Ed Wylie. “This interlocal will allow us to tap into the remaining $18 dollars, which brings us up to $134 per person, an additional $5 million in funding for the City of Pharr,” added Wylie.
Featured Event: Movies at the Park – Saturday, December 19, 2020, at 5:45 pm – A&W Arnold City/School Park
Join us for Movies at the Park on Saturday, December 19, 2020, at 5:45 pm at A&W Arnold City/School Park (615 W. Eldora Rd.). There will be a special double feature with holiday favorites The Grinch and Elf both playing.
We will have FREE hot chocolate and popcorn for families and even a photo opportunity with characters from The Grinch and Elf movies.
by media | Dec 8, 2020 | Featured News, Information, Media Releases
City of Pharr to Host Holiday Market to Boost Local Businesses, Vendor Registration Now Open
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr and the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a “Holiday Market” to help boost local businesses and support the local creative community. Vendors interested in participating may register by calling (956) 402-4240. The “Holiday Market” will take place on Sunday, December 13, 2020, from 2-7 pm at The Hub Downtown Food Truck Park (118 S. Cage Blvd.) near Pharr City Hall.
“The City of Pharr is excited to host our first “Holiday Market” as we aim to support our local business community this holiday season,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “We have so many creative and talented individuals in our community that offer amazing quality products,” added Hernandez. “We invite local businesses to register to be a vendor at our “Holiday Market” and invite our community to join us and shop local this Christmas,” he added.
Space is limited to the first 15 vendors who register. All vendors will be provided with a 6ft table to set up but must bring their own tablecloth. CDC guidelines will be implemented and everyone must wear a mask, and follow social distancing and health guidelines.
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS
WHAT: City of Pharr Holiday Market
WHEN: Sunday, December 13, 2020, from 2-7 pm
WHERE: The Hub Downtown Food Truck Park
118 S. Cage Blvd
Pharr, TX 78552
