McAllen City Commission Approves Film Friendly Certification, Golf Course Contract, Drainage Projects at July 13 Meeting
McA
llen, McAllen City Commission, Texas Film Friendly certification, Visit McAllen, Daniel Clark, Leigh Wooldridge, Parks and Recreation Month, Denny Meline, CDBG, HOME, golf course, Ware Road underpass, drainage improvements, Bar Alibi, MKz Nightclub, Cruz Hogan Consultants, B2Z Engineering, Go Underground, Isaac Tawil, Javier Villalobos
Staff Report
McAllen TX - The McAllen City Commission held its regular meeting Monday, July 13, 2026, taking action on a Texas Film Friendly certification, a golf course engineering contract, multiple infrastructure projects, and two conditional use permit matters that drew separate consideration due to prior enforcement actions.
Texas Film Friendly Certification
The commission received the city’s Texas Film Friendly certification, presented by Jose Lopez, regional representative for South Texas with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office of the Governor, who recognized Vice President of Visit McAllen Leigh Wooldridge for her work in the certification process.
“Thank you for the mayor, the members of the council, and the city stakeholders for their support for realizing this exciting initiative for the city of McAllen,” Lopez said. “You join over 200 communities across the state and have positioned McAllen to provide media productions with an increased assurance that McAllen is industry savvy and serious about welcoming their business to your community.”
Lopez noted that the Texas Film Commission was created in 1971 and that between 2007 and 2025, the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program contracted $2.9 billion in local spending and created more than 223,000 production jobs across the state. He highlighted several McAllen signature locations now positioned for film production, including the McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen Creative Incubator, Downtown McAllen, and Cine El Rey.
McAllen Chamber of Commerce incoming chairman Daniel Clark addressed the commission on the economic significance of the designation.
“This designation is more than a title. It’s a signal to the film industry that McAllen is open, organized, and ready to work,” Clark said. “The governor’s office doesn’t hand out Film Friendly Texas status lightly. It means our city and our partners have met a standard producers can count on. Every production that comes to McAllen doesn’t just bring cameras. It brings hotel stays, restaurant tabs, equipment rentals, catering contracts, local hires on crew, and direct dollars into small businesses.”
Clark announced that Visit McAllen will serve as the single point of contact for all film production inquiries, coordinating locations, permits, and logistics.
“Going forward, every filmmaker who wants to shoot in McAllen has one door to knock on,” Clark said. “This matters because it lowers the barrier for production to choose us over another city. And when they choose McAllen, the impact isn’t abstract. It’s the taco stand near the shoot location. It’s the hardware store renting out all that equipment. And it’s the local actors and crew getting on-set experience that they’d otherwise have to leave the Rio Grande Valley for.”
Parks and Recreation Month Proclamation
Commissioner Rolando “Roli” Rios presented a proclamation declaring July 2026 as National Parks and Recreation Month, recognizing July 17 as Parks and Recreation Professionals Day. The proclamation noted that McAllen has 101 parks, recreation facilities, and green spaces spanning pools, trails, community centers, and sports facilities.
Parks and Recreation Director Denny A. Meline accepted the proclamation on behalf of his department and staff.
“Parks and Recreation brings us together, strengthens our health and well-being, and builds more resilient, connected communities,” Meline said. “Throughout the month, we’re celebrating the many ways parks and recreation reveals the power of what connects us — the power of connection, the power of play, the power of community, the power of nature, the power of belonging, and the power of well-being.”
Meline thanked the city’s Office of Communications, led by Director Irma Chapa, for assisting with a video highlighting the department’s work.
Public Hearings and Rezonings
The commission approved the following routine rezoning and conditional use permit items, all carrying favorable recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission:
Rezoning from C-3 to C-2 at 6100 N. 10th St., south of Martin Avenue
Rezoning from R-1 to C-1 at 4117 N. Ware Road at Ware and Primrose
Rezoning from R-1 to R-3 at 617 Dallas Ave., east of 8th Street
Conditional use permit for a smoke/vape shop at 2200 Trenton Road, Suite 2A
Conditional use permit for a vape shop at 7913 N. 10th St., Suite 170
Conditional use permit for a nightclub, Santa Diabla, at 1704 Dallas Ave.
City-initiated rezonings of 237 parcels as part of the ongoing transition to the Unified Development Code, now 44% complete
One commissioner abstained from items 1, 2, and 8 without stating the reason on the record.
Bar Alibi Conditional Use Permit — Six Months Only
The commission considered separately a conditional use permit for Bar Alibi, a nightclub seeking to relocate from 209 to 211 S. 17th St. downtown. City staff flagged issues with the application discovered after it had been reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Mayor Javier Villalobos noted the establishment’s history with the city.
“This is one of the establishments that we were forced to file litigation against in response to some of the egregious behavior and what was formerly known as the ECOD,” Villalobos said. “I would request or recommend that this conditional use permit be for no longer than six months given recent litigation.”
Villalobos added that the establishment could return for renewal if it demonstrated compliance during that period. The commission approved the conditional use permit for six months.
MK’z Nightclub — No Action, Returned to Planning and Zoning
The commission took no action on a conditional use permit for MK’z Nightclub at 2021 Orchid Ave. City staff reported that subsequent to the item being placed on the agenda, additional enforcement actions came to light that the Planning and Zoning Commission had not been made aware of. Staff initially recommended outright disapproval, but the commission instead opted to return the item to the Planning and Zoning Commission for further review before any action is taken.
Alcoholic Beverage Code Variance
The commission approved a variance from the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Code distance requirement for a property at 1400 Savannah Ave., at the corner of South Main and Savannah west of the mall. Staff recommended approval given that the property’s primary use will be a restaurant.
Consent Agenda
The commission approved consent agenda items A through H, with item 2F pulled for separate consideration. Item 2F, a budget amendment for the FM2220 Ware Road Pedestrian Crossing, was approved after the mayor noted the project will be reimbursed by the Texas Department of Transportation upon completion, with an estimated 20% local match.
Bids and Contracts
The commission approved a lease agreement for El Muchachito Alegre Mariscos Express LLC at the Downtown Parking Garage Food Court. A commissioner asked whether the garage has adequate exterior signage to inform the public about businesses operating inside. City staff acknowledged there is some signage in place and said improvements are being explored.
For the new golf course improvements, the commission awarded a professional engineering services contract to Cruz Hogan Consultants Inc. of McAllen in the amount of $316,257. Staff noted the firm was selected from the city’s engineering rotation and is already familiar with the site. The scope of services includes design of potable water, sanitary, drainage, channel grading, and reclaimed water distribution systems.
For the FM2220 Ware Road Underpass Trail Passing project, the commission approved two companion items: a construction engineering and inspection services agreement with B2Z Engineering LLC in the amount of $624,915.44, and a construction contract with Go Underground. Staff noted the firm has prior experience with the city on comparable projects.
“No doubt it is a difficult project,” a city staff member said. “It’ll be challenging and we’ll have our eyes on this project.”
For the 1st Street at Beaumont Avenue drainage improvements, the commission awarded a contract to 2GS Earthworks Enterprise of Bonita, Texas, in the amount of $177,233.50. The project includes approximately 300 linear feet of new slotted drain system and concrete laydown curb and gutter with associated pavement reconstruction, as well as 325 linear feet of valley reconstruction. The contract time is not to exceed 45 days from issuance of the notice to proceed.
Ordinances
The commission approved a budget amendment for FM2220 landscape medians, which had been previously workshopped and approved by the development corporation. Staff noted the design calls for pavers in certain segments with isolated landscaping rather than full-length landscaping, to help control costs.
The commission also approved the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships programs. A city staff member reported that 44 applications were received requesting $4.9 million in funding, while total available funding was approximately $2.1 million. The committee reviewed applications based on project readiness, performance history, reporting compliance, number of residents served, and community impact.
City Manager Isaac J. Tawil used the discussion to foreshadow a broader conversation during the upcoming budget process about how the city funds nonprofit agencies.
“We have historically funded the same agencies, the same amount of money year after year, for sometimes decades,” Tawil said. “One of the things that I am going to encourage us to do is think about whether we want to remain, in a lot of cases, the revenue source that funds the entire operation of a lot of these organizations, and whether we need to be encouraging them to independently seek grant funding or to fund raise through other means — not because I don’t want to continue funding them, but because I want to give other agencies an opportunity to come and start and use the same resources.”
Tawil also praised the community development committee for its work. “They pour tirelessly through applications, consider very carefully the allocations of where very limited resources go, and work very hard. The community really owes you a debt of gratitude for the thoughtfulness that you put into the recommendations that you make.”
Resolutions
The commission approved a resolution authorizing an application to the HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program, which had been presented during the workshop earlier that evening.
The commission also approved a resolution supporting the Texas Department of Transportation’s removal of the pedestrian overpass bridge at 23rd Street between Fresno and Erie avenues. Staff described the structure as unkempt, unsightly, and potentially unsafe, noting it was originally built to serve a school that no longer operates at that location and that the overpass had been the subject of social media attention in recent months.
Variances
The commission approved a variance waiving right-of-way dedication for South 2nd Street for the proposed 7-Eleven McAllen Subdivision at 201 Dallas Ave. Staff noted the city currently has 80 feet of right-of-way and that acquiring additional right-of-way from recorded lots to the north and a reserve to the south was not practical.
Item 6B, which had included a companion request, was withdrawn. The commission approved a separate variance for the Hidden Groves Subdivision at 8601 N. 2nd St., allowing sidewalks to be waived on the east side perimeter and north boundary of the gated community, where sidewalks would not connect to any public path.
The commission also approved a variance to reduce the cul-de-sac right-of-way width from 116 feet to 100 feet along Jonquil Avenue for the Villas at Jonquil Subdivision at 512 Jonquil Ave. Staff noted the reduced width still accommodates 96 feet of fire access paving and a 10-foot sidewalk and utility easement.
Advisory Board Appointments
The commission approved the following advisory board appointments: Laura McCurry Pledo to the Friends of Quinta Mazatlan board, nominated by Mayor Villalobos; Gina Karam Milin to the Convention Center Advisory Board, Amanda Gomez to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and George Khan to the Traffic Advisory Board, all nominated by Commissioner Felix. Commissioner Rios was nominated to the Palm Valley board and insurance committee, and Commissioner Kisaka to the TML Region 12 Advisory Board.
Future Agenda Items
A commissioner requested an executive session summary on the status of all 380 agreements, including progress and fulfillments, noting the last such summary was provided two to three years ago. City Manager Tawil committed to providing the update at the next meeting.
Executive Session
The commission recessed into executive session to discuss economic development matters and legal aspects of contracts. Upon returning to open session, the commission voted to authorize the city manager and city attorney to proceed as described in executive session on both items 8A and 8B.
Source - City of McAllen