by media | Apr 29, 2021 | Media Releases, News
City of Pharr Hosts Texas Secretary of State and RGVMPO to Discuss Border Transportation Master Plan
Pharr city officials welcomed Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs and members of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (RGVMPO) Transportation Policy Board to the Pharr Events Center for a discussion regarding the Border Transportation Master Plan (BTMP).
During her remarks, Secretary Hughs announced that this was her first post-COVID trip in her official capacity, as well as her first visit to the Rio Grande Valley. She also shared that it was important for her to be present and part of the critical discussions as she presented the BTMP to the RGVMPO’s Transportation Policy Committee.
“The City of Pharr is proud to welcome Secretary Hughs and our RGVMPO colleagues as we work on implementing the BTMP,” said Pharr Mayor and RGV MPO Transportation Policy Board Chairman Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “The RGVMPO has been proactive in collaborating with TxDOT, Secretary Hughs, our binational partners, and all our regional stakeholders throughout the entire BTMP process,” he continued. “This plan will allow us to seek additional federal and state funding for improvements for our bridges and transportation projects,” added Hernandez.
The BTMP addresses the needs, challenges, opportunities, and funding strategies, such as public-private partnerships, to move people and goods more quickly and efficiently across Texas’ 28 border crossings. It is estimated that the Rio Grande Valley will receive more than $11 billion to address the needs of the region.
In December, Secretary Hughs presented the 400-page BTMP to the Texas Transporation Commission. The completed BTMP is the result of joint efforts between TxDOT and the Border Trade Advisory Committee (BTAC), which the Secretary chairs in her capacity as Texas’ Border Commerce Coordinator. Pharr is proud to have two members serve on the influential BTAC, Cynthia Garza Reyes, Director of External Relations, and Luis Bazán, Pharr Bridge Director.
“There are some very vital regional projects that we are working on at the RGVMPO to improve our infrastructure throughout the region and enhance our trading capacity,” said Executive Director of the RGVMPO Andrew Canon. “Projects we have identified include the International Trade Corridor which will provide a new truck route between Pharr and Donna international bridges, the East Loop Projects in Brownsville, and the Madero International Bridge Project in Mission,” he continued.
After the discussion at the Pharr Events Center, Secretary Hughs and the board had an internal briefing at the Pharr International Bridge where they received a tour and overview of the City of Pharr’s bridge projects.
Expressing the need for funding to enhance infrastructure, Mayor Hernandez stated, “As Secretary Hughs was able to witness during our luncheon, we have made tremendous strides at the Pharr International Bridge in terms of expansion and bridge improvements.” He continued, “Our ports of entry and bridges are critical to the lifeline of our economy not only in the City of Pharr but throughout the entire Rio Grande Valley region, and we hope the BTMP will allow us to finally receive the funding we need to plan for a better future.”
In March, the Texas Transportation Commission approved the plan and now awaits its adoption by the board into the Unified Transportation Program, the state’s 10-year transportation plan.
by media | Apr 28, 2021 | Featured News, Media Releases
Pharr EDC Foundation to Host Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 29 @ 6 pm
The Pharr Economic Development Corporation Foundation is pleased to announce that they will be hosting a Scholarship Awards Ceremony to recognize recipients of their inaugural Pharr EDC Foundation Scholarship. The event will take place at 6 pm TOMORROW, Thursday, April 29 at the Pharr Events Center (3000 N. Cage Blvd.) in Pharr.
“We had an overwhelming response of applicants apply for the scholarship and we are thrilled to be able to offer financial assistance to over 120 students within our community as they continue to work towards a higher education degree,” said Victor Perez, President of the Pharr EDC Foundation and Executive Director of the Pharr EDC. “This will be our first Scholarship Awards Ceremony and we look forward to recognizing these deserving students and their families,” added Perez.
The Pharr EDC Foundation will award over 120 scholarships, each at $2,000 ($1,000 per semester) for one academic year. The scholarship fund was created for residents of the City of Pharr who are enrolling in a qualifying post-secondary institution.”The biggest challenge facing our students continues to be financial assistance,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. who is also the Pharr EDC Foundation Board Treasurer. “This scholarship will help create a pipeline to college and eventually to careers for our Pharr students who have all the potential to succeed but lack the financial resources,” he added. “We are proud to create this legacy within our community,” he said.
The Pharr EDC Foundation is committed to supporting Pharr students’ achieve their educational and career dreams by helping them pay for college at all levels, whether it is for a trade or technical degree or a four-year university.
All media are invited to attend.
DETAILS
WHAT: Pharr EDC Foundation Scholarship Awards Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 6 pm
WHERE: Pharr Events Center (3000 N. Cage Blvd., Pharr, TX 78577)
by media | Apr 27, 2021 | Featured News, Media Releases
City of Pharr Officials React to Release of 2020 Census Figures
City of Pharr officials were pleased to learn that the State of Texas grew by 4 million people, according to the 2020 Census figures released yesterday by the U. S. Department of Commerce. The state gained the most in population and was one of only a handful of states across the country to gain additional congressional seats; Texas gained two additional congressional representatives and will now have 38 members in the U. S. House of Representatives.
Many factors attribute to the population growth, including the increasing number of opportunities available in Texas, such as economic, educational, housing, career, as well as rapidly burgeoning industries that are attracting people from out of the state to Texas. Additionally, the population is fairly young, indicating that much of the increase in newcomers can also be attributable to new births. All these factors contributed to the state’s population boom, positioning Texas as an even more influential state in the national arena. Additional congressional representation means more federal attention, resources, and funding for the state, and ultimately, for our region.
Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and members of Pharr’s Complete Count Committee are confident that their myriad efforts over the past two years had a positive effect on the census results in our area. In late 2019, and in partnership with our local school districts, Pharr recruited, trained, and deputized Parent Ambassadors who would be active in sharing the importance of responding to the census with their neighbors, families, and community members.
In early 2020, the city recruited and trained members that would comprise the city’s outreach team, with plans in place to canvass neighborhoods throughout the community of Pharr to ensure an accurate census response and count. Then, the pandemic hit. After months of relying on self-reporting and phone-banking to constituents sheltered-at-home, the Census outreach team was eventually able to ramp up the city’s efforts to ensure an accurate count, armed with personal protective equipment and having been trained on appropriate health and safety measures to resume door-to-door canvassing and outreach. In an effort to promote and increase citizen participation, the city was creative, rewarding those who completed their census form with incentives, including free food, a chance to win gifts, and a raffle for credit towards utility payments.
Pharr’s census response ultimately demonstrated a considerable increase in participation as compared to the 2010 Census. City leaders anticipate that Pharr’s census numbers will help South Texas ensure our fair share of federal allocation of funding and resources for our priorities, our projects, and our community.
“Overall, we are confident that our Census efforts paid off,” said Hernandez. “We look forward to the release of population figures at the local level and will work with our state leaders to ensure that the reallocation of congressional representation is fair to our area,” he continued.’
“We want to thank our Parent Ambassadors, our Census outreach team, and all citizens who participated in this very important Census,” Hernandez added.
by media | Apr 27, 2021 | Featured News, Media Releases
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a regular meeting on Monday, April 26, 2021, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:
Pharr Declares April 27 as Lady Raiders Softball Team Day
Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and the City Commission approved a proclamation declaring April 27, 2021, as Lady Raiders Softball Team Day. The City of Pharr proudly congratulated and recognized the PSJA North Lady Raider Softball Team for placing 1st in the State of Texas UIL 31-6A District. This year, the Lady Raiders had a very fruitful season winning 15 games and currently rank 6th in the state. This marks the 6th outright District Championship for The Lady Raiders. Head Coach Stephanie Lugo Peralta, her coaching staff, and the Lady Raiders Softball Team all accepted the proclamation during the city meeting. The team is moving on to the state competition and we wish them the best of luck. Congratulations Lady Raiders, the City of Pharr is proud of your accomplishments!
City Announces April Sales Tax Report
City Manager Ed Wylie announced that the sales tax activity for the City of Pharr as of the month of April 2021 continues to show a positive upward trend, demonstrating a steady increase in sales activity. The report shows an increase of 13.34% year-to-date growth in sales tax compared to last year (April 2020) and an increase of 11.79% in sales collections compared to last April.
Pharr Property Tax Collection Report
City Manager Ed Wylie announced that Property Tax Collections as of March 31, 2021, are $22,185,965 which is a 91.94% collection rate, an increase of 1.73% compared to last year. He also announced that Delinquent Tax Collections as of March 31, 2021, are $481,973 which is an increase of 3.57% compared to last year.
Featured Event: Special Community Announcement – Friday, April 30, 2021, at 11 am
The City of Pharr would like to invite the community for a special announcement on the 1st floor of City Hall this Friday, April 30th at 11 am. Watch the announcement live online at www.facebook.com/cityofpharr/.
by media | Apr 22, 2021 | Featured News, Media Releases
City of Pharr Awarded Progress Level Recognition for Performance Excellence
The City of Pharr is proud to announce that it has been awarded “Progress Level Recognition” by the Quality Texas Foundation, furthering the city’s pursuit of organizational and managerial excellence and moving the city one step closer toward its quest to achieve the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Quality Texas Foundation recognizes the best organizations regarding best business practices following the National Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, and the City of Pharr was recognized for demonstrating a strong dedication to quality and high performance. Pharr was one of two cities from five states to be recognized by the Foundation for its commitment to performance excellence. The City will be recognized and awarded for its excellence at the Texas Quality Foundation Annual Quest For Excellence Conference (Read the Quality Texas Foundation’s press release announcing the recognition below).
“Our city leaders, administration, and employees operate at the highest standard, and we are constantly striving toward excellence, and this recognition by Quality Texas Foundation demonstrates that the City of Pharr is well on its way toward achieving the highest level of performance as an organization,” said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D.
In 2019, Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. announced that the City of Pharr would be taking steps toward becoming a “smart” city – defined as a city that uses information and communication technologies to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve both the quality of government services and citizen welfare. The City would also be trimming excess, streamlining operations, and working toward optimal performance at minimal cost. Pharr began taking the steps necessary to aspire to achieve the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award – an award established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 to raise awareness of quality management and recognize U.S. companies and organizations, including governmental entities such as cities, that have implemented successful quality management systems. The award is the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence.
ln 2019, the City of Pharr was recognized at the “Commitment Level” at the 26th Annual Texas Quest for Excellence Conference. That year, key staff members attended Pre-Examiner and Internal Coach/Examiner training provided by Texas Quality Foundation, to empower staff to become better at their job and allow them to provide valuable input to leadership as to the world-class Baldrige Criteria framework. This year, Assistant City Manager Anali Alanis was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Quality Texas Foundation.
Upon announcing the recognition, Dr. Mac McGuire, CEO of the Quality Texas Foundation stated, “Congratulations to the City of Pharr for being recognized as a Progress Level Recipient of the Governor of Texas’ Quality Award and Recognitions. The City has distinguished itself by following the very best business practices and is a bright light in the valley and throughout Texas. Only one other city government was recognized this year in the program which spans Texas, Puerto Rico, Missouri, Kansas, and Louisiana. The City of Pharr continues to be the gold standard for government efficiency and effectiveness.”
Pharr Mayor Pro-Tem Roberto “Bobby” Carrillo stated, “Pharr has been striving toward excellence and this is another indicator that we are moving in the right direction.” Commissioner Dr. Ramiro Caballero concurred, noting, “It’s challenging to meet all the criteria set forth by the Foundation to determine that the City is indeed hitting all the marks, and our talented and dedicated team that is leading this project has been doing a tremendous job, as demonstrated by this award.” Commissioner Daniel Chavez stated, “We are proud of this recognition and will continue following the Foundation’s recommendations and working toward the goal of achieving the highly-coveted Malcolm Baldrige Award.”
Pharr City Manager Ed Wylie stated, “The citizens of Pharr should be proud of their city and the men and women that represent them. The quest to strategically improve the city’s effectiveness and efficiency is an ongoing and ever-changing process. Creating a culture of high productivity and performance, quality systematic management and leadership, and an employee mindset that revolves around the quality of work and building and maintaining strong, long-lasting relationships with its citizens is the ultimate goal. Together we will build the Pharr of tomorrow. We Are Team Pharr!”
According to the Quality Texas Foundation’s website:
The Quality Texas Foundation helps businesses, hospitals, schools, government agencies, and non-profits improve performance. We educate, train, assess, provide feedback and recognize organizations committed to a journey of excellence. Quality Texas encourages the use of the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and other methods that drive efficiency and effectiveness. Our work saves jobs, improves communities, and creates a stronger state and nation, and ultimately a better world for mankind.
Read the Quality Texas Foundation’s press release below:
by media | Apr 20, 2021 | Featured News, Media Releases
City of Pharr Hosts Unveiling Celebration for Time Capsule
The City of Pharr recently held a Time Capsule Unveiling Ceremony to honor the city’s past, preserve the present, and remind the future citizens of the city’s rich history. Officials from throughout Hidalgo County attended the historic event, helping to fill the capsule with relics that will one day be opened by future Pharr leaders and residents.
“This is a historic day for the City of Pharr,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. during the ceremony. “The time capsule was created to remember Pharr’s past, its present, and the future – allowing us to honor the city’s rich history while paying homage to our future,” continued Hernandez. “This event was supposed to take place one year ago, but then the pandemic hit,” he added. “However, this gave us more time to collect relics and even gave us the opportunity to collect documents and preserve mementos from the COVID-19 pandemic; a part of our history that will forever be remembered,” said Hernandez.
The Time Capsule Monument, located at the Development and Research Center in South Pharr, was unveiled by city leaders amidst a crowd of elected officials, community representatives, city employees, students from nearby Carmen Anaya Elementary, and City of Pharr residents.
During his remarks, Mayor Hernandez noted that each of the dials on the monument’s bronze sundial surface represents Pharr community leaders at this moment in time. A plaque placed on each dial is dedicated to current leaders including Mayor Hernandez and each current City Commissioner, Texas State Senators Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and Eddie Lucio Jr., Texas State Representative Sergio Munoz Jr., Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, and Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Commissioner Eddie Cantu.
Remarks about the city’s past, present, and future were also shared by City Commissioners Bobby Carrillo, Dr. Ramiro Caballero, Daniel Chavez, Attorney and advocate Eddie Anaya, Nathaniel Perez from the Warren Group Architects, Inc., Principal Berta Cantu of Carmen Anaya Elementary, and Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez.
The City Commissioners shared a collective message of progress, unity, and dedication to public service and working for the betterment of the City of Pharr and all its residents with the hope for a better and brighter future. “It’s amazing to see how far we have moved the city forward in the 13 years since I have been on the commission,” said Commissioner Carrillo. “I’m sure when this capsule gets opened up and they see what the city looked like before, it will certainly look very different to them, but nonetheless, they will recognize that we laid a strong foundation for our future and our residents,” he added.
“The City of Pharr has grown tremendously,” said Judge Cortez during his speech. “Having heard everyone speak here today, you can see and feel the pride, dedication to service, passion, and vision for the future that these city leaders have for their community,” he added. “Their work in the community is not only seen now but is helping to create a better future for Pharr,” added Cortez. “It truly is something to witness this dedication and how it is shaping Pharr into a leader among our communities.”
“This monument signifies our history, our prosperity, and what is yet to come in our future,” said Mayor Hernandez. “We cannot imagine what Pharr’s future will hold, but we know that this time capsule will be a monument of tremendous significance that our residents and families can appreciate and enjoy for years to come,” he added. “Everyone that visits this place will know that one day, years down the line, it will be opened by a new generation of leaders, residents, and families!”
The time capsule which is set to be opened in the year 2070, was filled with City of Pharr relics, memorabilia, photos, and notes to future Pharr residents. By the time the capsule is opened, the city will be celebrating its 161 year anniversary.
