McAllen, City Commission, Budget Workshop, Brackish Groundwater Desalination Facility, Rezoning
Staff Report
McAllen TX - The McAllen City Commission will hold a workshop Monday, Sept. 14, at 4 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 5 p.m., both at McAllen City Hall.
Public Hearing - Budget
The commission will hold a public hearing on the City of McAllen’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-2027. In August, the commission had voted to maintain the 2026-27 tax rate at $0.448989 per $100 valuation, unchanged from the current year.
Under Texas law, cities must follow "truth-in-taxation" procedures before adopting a property tax rate. A city must calculate and publish its no-new-revenue rate (the rate that would generate the same revenue as the prior year) and its voter-approval rate (the highest rate the city can adopt without triggering an election), and must hold a public hearing before adopting any rate that exceeds the no-new-revenue rate. The city must also hold a public hearing on its proposed budget, file the budget for public inspection, and adopt it by ordinance; state law generally requires the budget to be adopted before the tax rate, though both can occur at the same meeting as long as the budget is adopted first as a separate agenda item. The tax rate must ultimately be adopted no later than Sept. 30 or the 60th day after the city receives its certified appraisal roll, whichever is later.
Workshop
The workshop will include a presentation on ongoing planning and engineering design efforts related to the Brackish Groundwater Desalination Facility.
Proclamations
The regular meeting will include proclamations recognizing McAllen Public Library Month, Constitution Week, and the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
Public Hearing - Rezonings
The commission will hold a public hearing on several routine rezonings and conditional use permits recommended for approval by the Planning & Zoning Commission, including a rezoning at 2700 South 26½ Street, a rezoning at 3800 State Highway 107, a conditional use permit for an associated recreation use at 10421 North 34th Street requested by Garman Real Estate Development LLC, and a conditional use permit for a cigar lounge at 803 North 10th Street requested by Sarahi Duarte on behalf of Monroe Cigar Bar LLC.
The commission will also consider a series of city-initiated rezonings updating zoning classifications under the city’s new Unified Development Code across numerous properties, including areas along South Jackson Road, South McColl Road, and near Quinta Mazatlan.
Consent Agenda
The commission will consider approval of minutes from budget workshops held Aug. 5, 12 and 18, and the workshop and regular meeting held Aug. 24; approval of various city surplus vehicles and equipment; and resolutions to accept two Federal Aviation Administration grants.
Bids and Contracts
The commission will consider approval of a Construction Manager-At-Risk proposal qualification for the city’s new golf course project; a contract award for annual land surveying services; and a change order for the 2nd Street at Byron Nelson Avenue drainage improvements project.
Resolution
The commission will consider a resolution casting a vote for the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees election.
Variances
The commission will consider a variance request to not extend North 49th Street to Pecan Boulevard for the proposed Pecan Plaza Subdivision, and a variance request to not provide a north-south quarter-mile collector road for the proposed Star Subdivision at 401 East Dicker Road.
Manager’s Report
The commission will consider advisory board appointments and discuss future agenda items.
Tabled Items
The commission will revisit a tabled item regarding the award of contract for an airport rescue firefighting apparatus foam transition project, and a tabled variance request for sidewalk requirements for the proposed Pecina Estates Subdivision at 841 E. Pineridge Ave.
Executive Session
The commission will convene in executive session to discuss the possible lease, sale or purchase of real property and economic development matters, both during the workshop and the regular meeting.