By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito City Commission’s regular meeting was canceled this week due to the potential for inclement weather. It was rescheduled for June 23, which will be the first meeting with the recently assigned interim city manager.
With the commission unanimously approving former City Manager Fred Sandoval’s letter of resignation ahead of a special meeting on June 9, one of the topics for discussion was appointments to various boards and commissions, including the San Benito Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
These were “pressing” matters that some commissioners had requested be placed on the agenda so they could take action either during the special meeting or at the June 16 regular meeting, said City Attorney Eric D. Flores, who sat alongside City Attorney Javier Villalobos.
Flores reminded commissioners that the special meeting packet includes “holdover revisions” and new appointments for consideration.
One of the ordinances that could change is the distance requirement for all future appointees. There is interest in expanding that requirement for potential appointees who reside outside San Benito’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) city limits.
Sandoval, during his tenure here, also served as the EDC executive director, so his seat will need to change soon.
He was seated next to other visitors throughout the special meeting.
“I wanted to bring this before the commission as well because we’ve received requests over the years from people who live in the (San Benito extra-territorial jurisdiction) within two miles of the city limits who want to serve on the boards and commissions but are not able to,” said Mayor Pedro A. Galvan, who won a May election over incumbent Rick Guerra. “I want to include those who have a business or a business interest in the city and afford them the opportunity to serve as well.”
During the special meeting, Mayor Galvan told commissioners he wanted to add those “revisions that the law allows.”
Guerra and former commissioners Deborah A. Morales and Thomas W. Goodman III were not re-elected, but they also held posts on the EDC Board of Directors in their capacity as former elected leaders.
There is now discussion within the new commission about making changes in accordance with the City of San Benito’s existing ordinances.
“I know the EDC board is a pressing issue for some; currently, those appointed could roll over and fulfill their duties until replaced, Mayor Galvan said. “I would like for us to look at that organization and see if we could improve how appointments are made and the qualifications for those appointments, so we have a more business-friendly board.”
Commissioner Ricardo Perez, Jr., who defeated Goodman, said he would like to see the residents who live outside the city’s ETJ be included in the expansion.
He had moved to discuss the topic on the June 16 regular meeting agenda rather than at the special meeting. Commissioner Daniel Cortez, who unseated Morales, cast the lone dissenting vote. Cortez is also on the EDC board and serves as vice president. He had been appointed months before running for public office.
According to its ordinance, the City of San Benito must post a new agenda within 72 hours of a scheduled commissioners’ meeting.
The June 16 meeting agenda packet contained an expanded list of appointments.
It shows there are seven EDC board members. Four had their terms expire on May 31, 2025, and three had theirs expire on May 31 of this year.
It also shows that all five two-year appointments of the Planning and Zoning Commission expired on May 31. It shows the same expiration date for the Zoning Board of Adjustments appointments.
As reported last week, after two hours in closed session to consider three items, Commissioners unanimously accepted Sandoval’s letter of resignation.
They also unanimously appointed Carlos Yerena as interim city manager and agreed on the process, timeline, and recruitment procedures for selecting a permanent city manager.