Del Rio Council reviews theatre bids, city projects, budget concerns

Del Rio residents are still waiting for clearer answers about the city’s water money, even as officials move ahead with a packed slate of projects that could affect downtown, streets, pools and day-to-day service. During Thursday’s meeting, the council reviewed the water department fund balance, three bids for the Paul Poag Theatre renovation and 27 capital improvement projects spanning sewer, water, parks, facilities, streets and drainage.

Six of the seven council members were present, with J.P. Sanchez absent. Mayor Al Arreola opened the meeting with condolences for Parks Director Lazaro Castro after the death of Castro’s father, while Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez thanked administrative staff for their work and Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. praised San Felipe Springs Golf Course staff for helping with a benefit tournament there over the weekend.

Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez said the city had received three bids for Phase III of the Paul Poag Theatre rehabilitation at 746 South Main Street. Staff will evaluate the proposals and bring a recommendation back to council on May 12. The project has already gone through one rebidding cycle after earlier bids were rejected because of calculation errors and different interpretations of the bid documents.

The theatre remains one of the city’s most visible downtown assets, and the new round of bids will determine how quickly the historic city-owned venue can move ahead. Chavez also reported that striping on Griner Street had been completed, a small but visible improvement for drivers and pedestrians in that corridor.

Summer recreation was also on the council’s list. Chavez said party rentals at city pools begin May 1, with public swimming starting June 12. At the same time, the city is advancing the Buena Vista Pool rehabilitation, with design-build qualifications open through May 22. That leaves Del Rio juggling pool access for families while planning the work needed to keep the facility operating in the long term.

Chavez also named the April service honorees the city plans to recognize for 20 years or more of service: Del Rio Fire Department Lt. Ben Denney, firefighter Tim Breckenridge, Juan Salazar, Martin Renteria and Greg Velazquez. Arreola suggested the broader capital update be delivered quarterly, signaling that council wants a more regular check on the city’s long list of water, drainage and infrastructure needs.

The water fund discussion carried the most financial weight. Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus had already asked for a fuller explanation at an earlier meeting, and the issue sits against a budget backdrop that remains tight. Del Rio’s FY 2025-2026 budget, approved in September 2025, included major transfers from enterprise funds to support the general fund, while staff have described that general fund balance as steadily declining over the past decade. The city’s next decisions on the theatre bids, pool work and water finances will show whether those pressures ease or deepen.