by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

05-15-25

   The Uvalde Hesperian spoke with the City of Uvalde’s Director of Planning Susan Anderson about the City’s plans on managing the town’s tourism efforts with Hotel Motel Tax Monies collected by local lodging businesses. \

  According to Anderson, at Tuesday’s Uvalde City Council meeting, the City Council voted to approve a plan where several City officials and managers including Opera House Manager Caitlin Visel, Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma, and several other City staff members will form a committee to manage the marketing and public relations of the town utilizing HOT Tax monies. As part of the new plan, the City will hire an additional tourism marketing person to join the team. 

   Anderson said in the past, the City has managed and directed tourism in-house and then over time contracted the City’s marketing and tourism to non-profit organizations like the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce.

   She said shortly after Uvalde Chamber of Commerce President John Yeackle gave notice to City Council his intent to not renew the Chamber’s agreement with the City to manage the municipal tourism with the use of HOT Tax monies, City officials began discussing plans to bring the task in-house.  She mentioned Yeackle left a marketing plan for the City, and indicated it is being followed.

  Anderson said the Opera House Manager Caitlin Visel has already been promoting the Opera House events and Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma has been involved with its promotions. Anderson also mentioned the Briscoe Garner Museum as a possible partnering organization she hopes to partner with in promoting the City.

  Susan mentioned there are 3 tourism related conferences the City is already planning on attending and the team is also preparing for the Hunter’s Round-Up this fall and the Texas Travel Alliance event in October.

Main Street Uvalde /Civic Center Offices and Chamber of Commerce to swap office locations

   With a 120-day transition period coming to an end soon, Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma indicted their planned office move is still on schedule: 

  “We move on Tuesday, May 27. My office will be closed on May 23 and May 26-28, but I will still be able to take phone calls and emails. It just will be the physical office that is closed,” Resma said.

   See related article published in the Uvalde Hesperian:

Uvalde Chamber of Commerce already planning move back to its North Getty Street property – Uvalde Hesperian

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

04-08-25

An RV might be considered by many to be a home away from home, but what is the City’s ordinance on parking one’s RV on residential property?

At tonight’s City Council meeting, an RV ordinance change is on the agenda for discussion.

The following will be up for discussion and a possible action by the City County amending the existing ordinance:

Section 2. 1 Amend 17.36.010 Permitted Accessory Uses by adding:

E. A recreational vehicle may be stored on a residential lot if:
1. It is parked on an all-weather surface and is provided with a similarly improved driveway connecting to a street or alley, and
2. It is parked behind the front building line and side building line for corner lots, and
3. It is parked 5 fee from the side and rear property lines, and
4. It is not permanently connected to electricity, water, or sewer, and
5. It is not used as a dwelling, and
6. It has a valid license plate and current registration, and
7. No more than one (1) recreational vehicle may be stored per residential lot.

Tonight’s City Council agenda packet including the existing ordinance and proposed amendment can be found below:

Regular Council - Apr 08 2025 - Agenda - Pdf

Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

03-11-25

  On tonight’s agenda, the City Council will Consider authorizing execution and approval of a development agreement with Uvalde Development Company, LLC, under Chapter 212, Texas Local Government Code, relating to annexation of and provision of municipal services to approximately 112.70 acres of real property located in the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

  The City will vote on designating the TIRZ’s as “Reinvestment Zone Number One, City of Uvalde;” describing the boundaries of the Zone; creating a Board of Directors for the Zone and appointing a Board Member as City Representative. providing an effective date and termination date for the Zone; establishing a tax increment fund.

The Pros:

 According to City Officials, the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone will cover two areas consisting of 194 acres of land in/near the city. Under the TIRZ, the City would annex a portion of the land which currently lies outside of the city limits. One area will consist of a residential development paving new city streets, streetlights and infrastructure on the east side of town near Leona Street and the new Legacy Elementary School 

The second area is near Garner Field Road and consists of commercial developments.

 According to City officials, the risk of the project is on the developer as under the agreement, the City would receive a baseline value property tax for 30 years and the increased property value tax portion would go to reimburse the developer. The City would only stand to lose the increased property tax monies generated by the new development.  

According to a .pdf of the TIRZ plan posted on the City of Uvalde website it states the following pros:

Creation of the TIRZ and implementation of the Project will:
Increase the population and tax base of the area;
Remove low valued, vacant, and exempt land from the tax rolls and replace it with higher
value development.
Allow for the construction of a new class of housing for the area;
Create jobs both temporary and permanent;
Start a new model for development in the area that is more sensitive to the environment
(i.e., green spaces, curving design, etc.), is more sustainable, and provides a greater sense
of place and community with amenity living; and

Field of Dreams: Build it and they will come?

   The developer is proposing approximately 130 houses in the $250, 000 price range to be constructed on the residential development. In order for the new development to work, these houses would have to be bought. According to information gleaned from a public meeting held in December 2024, the developer is expecting newcomers from outside Uvalde to come buy these properties. These new residents would likely be employed at the Uvalde Memorial Hospital. the new MDD mental health treatment center, etc. 

  If newcomers don’t come in and buy these houses or if there is a lack of demand for residential real estate. will the newly created residential streets without houses around them and empty cul-de-sacs?

  Uvalde Resident Diana Olvedo Karau has stated that the new residential area would tax the city’s water supply, and that city, police, fire and ambulance services would be required to serve these newly developed areas.

  At the December 6th City of Uvalde Public Forum on the TIRZ, the Uvalde Hesperian asked: How welcoming is Uvalde to newcomers? Will these new residents be welcomed and accepted in the Uvalde Community?

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

February 6th, 2024

In a news story published by the Uvalde Hesperian on February 5th: Yeackle proposes new management plan for the Uvalde Main Street Program

In the article, it stated:

“Uvalde Main Street Manager Gloria Resma was not in attendance at the meeting. The Uvalde Hesperian sent an email on Thursday, January 30th to City of Uvalde Mayor Hector R. Luevano and City Manager Vince DiPiazza with the following question:

‘Wanted to ask what if the city of Uvalde has a policy of not allowing department heads or employees to address the City Council at City Council meetings especially when the subject is on their job or position?’

The Hesperian is still waiting on a response.”

Earlier today, February 6th, 2025,  Uvalde City Manager Vince DiPiazza sent the following statement to the Uvalde Hesperian:

“Ms. Resma was not forbidden to speak on her own behalf at the 28 January city council meeting. She, Susan Anderson, and I met prior to that meeting to discuss the staff’s approach to the chamber of commerce proposal. The consensus was that we wanted the council to hear first from Main Street board members on the value, or perhaps lack thereof, of the Main Street program. The program is not about this or that city employee; it’s about boosting the businesses in the central business district, those businesses being, collectively, a significant economic engine in our community.

Ms. Resma does not have to fight for her job. We continue to need her to manage the civic center, which is now doing more business than it did when we contracted the management to another entity. If the council sees fit to contract the management of the Main Street program to the chamber of commerce, then the staff will support that decision. I already have in mind other tasks within city operations for which I would like to use Ms. Resma’s talents, if, as we continue to grow business at the civic center, she still has time to devote her efforts to those other tasks.”

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

01/19/25

With a Winter Storm Advisory issued by the National Weather Service for tonight through midday Tuesday and overnight temperatures into Monday expected to dip to 21 degrees in Uvalde. The Bread of Life Christian Fellowship located at 700 North High Street has opened its doors Sunday afternoon offering those without heating a warm place to sleep and food.

Pastor Gilbert Limones of Casa El Shaddai and his church’s congregation joined in the effort to assist the Bread of Life Church with its efforts to serve those in need in Uvalde.

Earlier this morning, Limones posted a Facebook Live Video asking the community for assistance with food donations, blankets, and other items as well as monetary donations to assist with the effort. Volunteers are also needed.

Limones said he has been in contact with Uvalde Mayor Hector R. Luevano and the churches  are working with the City. Limones said if the Bread of Life facilities become full, the City of Uvalde has agreed to open the Civic Center to provide an additional warming location during these frigid days and nights.

  After an ongoing negotiation process now well into the second year between Clear Springs Cancer Center and the UMH board, a contractual agreement is close to becoming a reality according to Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Charles A. Brooks said in a telephone interview with the Uvalde Hesperian on Monday, April 11th.

  According to Brooks, Dr. David Jones, the owner of Clear Springs and UMH are in the final stages of the negotiation process with the goal for UMH to assume ownership and operations. “When all is said and done, he feels this commitment by UMH to provide continuance of care for cancer patients in the surrounding area is a positive outcome.” Brooks said. 

 Dr. Brooks released a statement summarizing significant points in the transition.

   “There will be continuity of cancer care for our community.   I  am planning on remaining in Uvalde and providing ongoing care for both new and existing cancer patients.

  Clear Springs will remain open under the “Clear Springs” moniker, same phone number and same fax.  Anticipated date of transfer to Hospital ownership and operations is May 1, 2022.

  Existing Clear Springs staff will have the opportunity to remain at the facility as employees of UMH.  The relationship with the Hospital will allow Clear Springs to purchase new state-of-the art software and equipment.

  There will be continuation of the nine-county catchment area that was part of the original Marmion Regional Cancer Center directive, formulated more than ten years ago.  “Rides to Radiation” will continue to provide services for those patients that request transportation “