The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a regular meeting on Monday, March 2, 2020, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:City Engineer’s Report: Update on Drainage Projects
Pharr City Engineer and Director Omar Anzaldua Jr. informed the City Commission that his department is coordinating with Public Works to begin drainage improvements throughout the city. The drainage system projects will consist of upgrades, widening, and making existing drainage deeper. “We are working on a plan of action and a timeline of when we can begin these projects. As soon as the timeline is confirmed and approved, the details will be made available to the public and posted on the city’s website,” said Anzaldua. Pharr Municipal Court Recognized
The Pharr Municipal Court was recently notified by the Texas Municipal Court Education Center and TxDOT that they have been selected for an award. This award recognizes the court’s hazards and risk model which promotes the city’s public safety, traffic education, and best practices. “Mayor and Commissioners, we are thrilled to be here with you today to tell you that the Pharr Municipal Court was selected as 1 of 22 recipients of a traffic safety initiative award out of 933 municipal courts in the State of Texas,” said Judge Marissa Carranza Hernandez. “We were also the only ones in the County of Hidalgo to be selected for this award, this is also the first time the City of Pharr Municipal Court is selected for this award,” she continued. Judge Carranza Hernandez and the Court Coordinator will be attending a conference in Austin on April 6, 2020, to present on what they are doing in Pharr as an example to other Municipal Courts throughout the state and will also be receiving their award at a banquet that evening.
City Hall Renovations: Payment Stations Now Available at the Pharr Development and Research Center in South Pharr
Interim City Manager Ed Wylie announced that with the renovations at Pharr City Hall underway, citizens are urged to make payments at stations set up throughout the city. A new payment station is now conveniently available at the Pharr Development and Research Center (850 W Dicker Rd, Pharr, TX 78577).
Featured Event: 14th Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk – Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 8 am
The City of Pharr presents another family-friendly event for you, the St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk
Join us Saturday, March 14th, beginning at 8:00 AM at the PSJA Stadium (703 E. Sam Houston St. Pharr, Texas).
Pharr, Texas – On Monday, Pharr City Commissioner Bobby Carrillo, together with JoJo from KTEX and Ruben Vela from Super Tejano, announced the lineup for this year’s HUBPhest, which is themed “Country Boots/Tejano Roots.” Pharr’s annual flagship festival, HUBPhest, will take place starting at 2 pm in downtown Pharr on Saturday, April 4, 2020, and is FREE for all attendees before 5 pm, and only $5 admission after 5 pm. All you can ride carnival wristbands will be sold for $5.
“This year’s HUBPhest will once again be a celebration of our city’s unique cross-cultural heritage that spans borders, cultures, and languages,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “We are proud to be celebrating our Tejano Country roots and excited to announce our musical entertainment lineup and headlining acts,” he continued. “Everyone is invited to join us for the festivities, remember to bring your family, your friends, your lawn chairs, and join us on Saturday, April 4 for HUBPhest!”
HUBPhest is a family-friendly festival full of fun and entertainment. Features this year will include an IBCA-sanctioned Barbecue Cookoff, food booths, a carnival, petting zoo, dock dogs, and much, much more!
The HUBPhest lineup will feature musical performances by:
GARY HOBBS
DAVID LEE GARZA Y LOS MUSICALES
BO GARZA
STEVE AND HIS BARROOM BUDDIES
LAUREN CORZINE
DREW & THE DANCEHALL DREAMERS
City officials and HUBPhest sponsors are excited to announce that Pat Green and Michael Ray will be this year’s Headliners.
ABOUT PAT GREEN After rising through Texas’ college-town and dancehall scene years ago, Green earned himself major-label support in Nashville and became the poster child of Texas music for a whole generation of fans. His list of achievements includes over 2 million albums sold, three Grammy nominations and a sold-out Houston Astrodome. After releasing six albums in eight years, sending singles like “Wave on Wave” and “Let Me” up the charts, touring with powerhouses like Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban he took a three-year recharge. Now, Green is back in his comfort zone and playing by his own rules again. His is new independent album Home is his first set of originals in several years, and directly speaks to the hardcore fans that have been with him since the beginning. Featuring a mature country sound that is both modern and exposes his roots for all to see, his new tunes are full of ringing acoustic guitars, slippery steel and dobro, wailing fiddles and heartfelt, personal lyrics, making Home the return to form many fans have been waiting for.
ABOUT MICHAEL RAY Florida’s Michael Ray has a resonant voice and a knack for crafting vibrant, upbeat contemporary country-rock. Although he built a strong grassroots fan base in Southern Florida, Ray also gained prominence as the winner of the CW network’s reality television vocal competition The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep in 2012, where he was mentored by Big & Rich’s John Rich. Ray was an audience favorite on the show and ultimately took home the top prize. After the show, Ray signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell, and in 2014 released the hit single “Kiss You in the Morning.” His full-length major-label debut, Michael Ray, followed in 2015 on Warner Music Nashville. Well-received, the album made it to number four on the Country Albums chart and spawned two more singles with “Real Men Love Jesus” and “Think a Little Less.” Over the next several years, Ray toured extensively before returning to the studio alongside producer Scott Hendricks (Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins). In 2018, he delivered his sophomore album, Amos, which included the Top 20 country single “Get to You.” Amos debuted at five on Billboard’s Country Albums charts upon its June release.
Everyone is invited to join the City of Pharr for HUBPhest on Saturday, April 4, 2020, in Downtown Pharr. Gates open at 2 pm entrance is FREE until 5 pm. $5 entrance fee after 5 pm. Music, entertainment, and wholesome Pharr Fun for the Whole Family!
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS WHAT: Pharr HUB Phestival 2020 WHEN: Saturday, April 4, 2020, starting at 2 pm WHERE: Downtown Pharr (118 S. Cage, Blvd., Pharr, TX 78577)
Pharr, Texas – City of Pharr leaders and the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Pharr Bridge Business Park’s latest distribution center, PBBP2. At the same time, they will kick off the groundbreaking of PBBP3 at the adjacent site.
The ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 11 am on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at the Pharr Bridge Business Park (https://goo.gl/maps/gvUFrBbhEhxv2cFr6).
The Pharr Bridge Business Park (PBBP) is a 30-acre, master-planned industrial park with two existing 100,000 square foot class A facilities, and over 100,000 square feet of additional planned facilities. This premier development is located along the overweight corridor and less than 1.5 miles from the Pharr International Trade Bridge; the only international bridge with commercial traffic in the area. Southbound, PBBP offers direct access to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, home to over four hundred manufacturing operations occupying over thirty million square feet of industrial real estate. Northbound, PBBP feeds into Highway 281/Cage Boulevard, transitioning into Interstate 69, one of the most efficient distribution corridors in the U.S.
This development offers flexible multi-tenant and build-to-suit layouts for distribution, warehousing, and light assembly users. With an emphasis on inefficient inventory management, PBBP delivers ease of C-TPAT compliance through fenced and secured truck courts for its clients.
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS WHAT: Ribbon Cutting and Groundbreaking for the Pharr Bridge Business Park Distribution Center WHEN: Thursday, March 5, 2020, at 11 am WHERE: Pharr Bridge Business Park (https://goo.gl/maps/gvUFrBbhEhxv2cFr6) Directions: Head south on Cage until you hit Hi Line Rd. Take a right. Head west until you hit Sugar Rd., take a left. Head South once again until you hit Zaragoza, take a left, and tent will be set up in the parking lot.
*Photo Courtesy of Senator John Cornyn’s Office Pictured at a meeting in Senator Cornyn’s Office is (l to r): Hollis Rutledge, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Pharr Director of External Affairs Cynthia Garza-Reyes, City Commissioner Daniel Chavez, and Public Affairs Liaison Michael Vargas.
Pharr, Texas – Pharr city leaders visited with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss priorities and funding for Pharr, the Pharr International Bridge, and regional projects.
City Commissioner Daniel Chavez, Director of External Affairs Cynthia Garza-Reyes, and Public Affairs Liaison Michael Vargas represented the City of Pharr during the trip.
“Under my leadership, the City of Pharr has taken a proactive approach to policy and funding solutions by actively meeting with members of Congress to enhance relationships and direct communication with leaders and staff as the city continues to advocate for Pharr families and regional projects for the Rio Grande Valley,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “By fostering positive-working partnerships directly with our representatives on both sides of the aisle, the City of Pharr has been able to accomplish great support and partnerships as we all work together to advance the future of Pharr and the Rio Grande Valley,” added Hernandez. “Our goal is to ensure that Pharr continues to thrive and especially with the passing of USMCA, we want to ensure that we are aware of potential changes that could affect business and trade and commerce in our city and region,” he stated.
The Pharr delegation met with several key members of Congress and staff including U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Vicent Gonzalez, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, U.S. Congressman Filemon Vela, the Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Michael Conaway, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul, members from the Office of U.S. Congressman John “Judge” Carter and leaders from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
While meeting with Senator Cornyn, the delegation discussed the importance of USMCA in relation to cross-border trade and its effect on the Pharr International Bridge, as well as Sen. Cornyn’s Protecting American’s Food and Agriculture Act, which has passed the Senate and is on the President’s desk awaiting his signature. This legislationwould ensure the safe and secure trade of agricultural goods across our nation’s borders by authorizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire additional inspectors to fully staff America’s airports, seaports and land ports of entry. The Pharr International Bridge and surrounding regional ports of entry would all benefit from this legislation.
“I always appreciate my friends from Pharr keeping me abreast of what’s happening in their community. It was a great meeting focused on binational trade with Mexico, and I was proud to highlight my bill that has passed the Senate to authorize CBP to hire additional inspectors to fully staff our ports of entry,” said Senator Cornyn.
The delegation also discussed job creation and trade with Senator Ted Cruz.
“It’s always a pleasure to meet with the City of Pharr Leadership,” Sen. Cruz said. “My number priority from day one in the Senate has been jobs because that’s the number one priority of Texans all across our great state. I was proud to support the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is a win for Texas farmers, ranchers, manufactures, and businesses. The Pharr International Bridge is no exception and, as the number one port of entry for produce, it will only be strengthened under this agreement. I appreciate the leadership of Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez and the Pharr city council members and community leaders and I will continue working to ensure our trade agreements benefit Texas and put American jobs first.”
Congressman Filemon Vela welcomed the delegation as they met to discuss border trade and the importance of the Pharr International Bridge to the Texas and National economies.
“The Pharr bridge is a critical line of commerce between the United States and Mexico. As one of the most traveled commercialized bridges in the country, the men and women who operate the Pharr bridge help feed the nation. It’s always a pleasure meeting with City of Pharr leaders to discuss how we can ensure that this vital line of trade continues to operate so that commerce runs smoothly and safely,” said Congressman Filemon Vela.
Meeting with Congressman Gonzalez, the group met to cover key priority issues for the city and region.
“When Pharr thrives, the United States thrives,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. “As a key international gateway, the city of Pharr plays a crucial role in economic development for South Texas. I will continue to advocate for the city of Pharr as it takes bold and innovative steps to improve its infrastructure, expand investment, make cross-border commerce more efficient, and bring more high-paying jobs to our region.”
Among the many other items discussed with leaders were transportation, technology, public safety, and continued talks regarding future possible pilot programs that could benefit the city.
Pharr delegation meets with U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pharr, Texas – Pharr city officials will host a press conference to make an announcement regarding the city’s biggest annual celebration, the Pharr Hub Phestival. The press conference will be held immediately following the Pharr City Commission meeting at 4:30 pm on Monday, March 2, 2020, at the Pharr City Commission Meeting Room located in Pharr City Hall (118 S. Cage Blvd., 2nd Floor).
Special guest and radio personality JoJo from KTEX will be joining city leaders to announce the exciting lineup for this year’s festival which is themed “Country Boots/Tejano Roots.” HubPhest will take place in downtown Pharr on Saturday, April 4, 2020, and is FREE for all attendees before 5 pm, and only $5 admission after 5 pm. All you can ride carnival wristbands will be sold for $5.
HubPhest is a family-friendly festival full of fun and entertainment. Features this year will include an IBCA-sanctioned Barbecue Cookoff, food booths, a carnival, petting zoo, dock dogs, and much, much more!
All media are invited to attend.
DETAILS WHAT: Pharr Hub Phestival Press Conference Announcement WHEN: Monday, March 2, 2020, at 4:30 pm WHERE: Pharr City Hall, 2nd Floor (118 S. Cage)
Pharr, Texas – City of Pharr officials and the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Traveler Produce’s newest facility – Eagle Cold Storage.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held at 3:30 pm TODAY, Thursday, February 20, 2020, at Eagle Cold Storage in the Pharr Produce Park (10701 S. International Drive) in Pharr.
Known for its expansive reach, Traveler Produce works diligently to provide quality produce to all parts of the United States. Please join us to welcome them to Pharr, TX, the hub of international trade in the Rio Grande Valley!
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS WHAT: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Traveler Produce’s Eagle Cold Storage WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 3:30 pm WHERE: 10701 S. International Dr., Pharr, Texas
