Mission Matters Newsletter - December 2023 (English)

MESSAGE F R O M

T H E

DECEMBER 2023

M A Y O R

NORIE GONZALEZ GARZA

NEWS AND INFORMATION SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF MISSION, TEXAS

Caption

CIT Y OF MISSION • 1201 E . 8TH ST. • MISSION, T X 785 72 • (956) 580-8650 • missiontexas.us •

Greetings Mission Families, This has been an extraordinary and historic year for our City of Mission, and I am so proud to guide our community in these achievements as your mayor!

Mission Matters and I am honored to carry this motto into the forefront of everything we do to better serve our residents and our community. Through this inaugural newsletter, my colleagues on the Mission City Council and I are proud to highlight the many wonderful events, projects, and accolades we have accomplished over the past few months.

Together we have worked towards prosperity and growth, having welcomed many new businesses such as IHop, Neighborhood Walmart, Burlington and more! Additionally, we took on major initiatives and projects throughout the city such as becoming a No Refusal City, the Ruby Red Ventures Build Mission Fund, the building of a new Fire & Police Substation, drainage infrastructure improvements, and the highly anticipated expansion of the Anzalduas Bridge, among many others. I am especially proud of the many community events we have held for our residents and community.

The City of Mission is growing and as your leaders, we are proud to continue to work towards attracting new businesses, retailers, residential and commercial developments, and opportunities for our residents. Our retail sales taxes have shown a dramatic 52 percent growth in the last four years!

As we celebrate the holiday season, I would like to reflect on all these accomplishments and thank our residents, city employees, administration, and our city council for making Mission matter. We have so much more to accomplish, and I look forward to the many great things that lay ahead for our city in 2024!

@CityofMissionT X

CITY OF MISSION

Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza Delivers Historic

State of the City Address

In October, the City of Mission hosted its first “State of the City Address,” with Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza delivering her remarks to a packed room of more than 700 attendees at the Mission Event Center. Attendees included local, state, and federal officials, dignitaries, business and education community members, and other notable guests.

The City of Mission is proud to announce that this event was made possible through the unwavering commitment of sponsors, with 100% of the event’s funding derived from their generous sponsorships.

“If you build it, they will come.”

road infrastructure, enhancing public safety, including police, fire, and emergency services, - MAYOR NORIE and fostering health and GONZALEZ wellness, among other GARZA topics. She stressed that The theme for the event Mission is readily poised represented the sense of hope and continues to prepare for found in the “Field of Dreams,” the exponential growth it currently the baseball story that uses the iconic experiences and is expected to continue. mantra, “If you build it, he will come.”

Her address also included video Mayor Garza’s take, “If you build it, they testimonials from Mission City will come,” was intended to outline the Councilmembers and key partners foresight that the city has used to lay contributing to Mission’s growth and the foundation for current and future development. One of the major highlights growth, aimed to attract new businesses, was the highly anticipated expansion of the developments, residents, and visitors.

Anzalduas International Bridge, which will In her remarks, Mayor Garza weaved open the city to commercial and industrial in the theme, discussing topics traffic. When discussing that the crime such as strengthening regional rate has decreased due to the data-driven partnerships, improving drainage and crime-fighting strategies that the Mission

Norie Gonzalez Garza Mayor of Mission

The excitement in the room by attendees eager to experience this first-ever event of its kind in the City of Mission was palpable from beginning to end.

Highlights of the event included a fun video featuring a baseball winding its way throughout the community of Mission, with city officials and employees participating in showcasing the various aspects of its services and landmarks.

“It was a very successful event, and I was extremely proud to share all our accomplishments and plans for the future of our great city,” said Mayor Gonzalez Garza. “I appreciate all the work that went into an event of this caliber, and I thank everyone for joining us today,” she added.

The video was livestreamed for the community to watch through the Mission Cable Channel - Spectrum 1300, the city’s Facebook page, YouTube, missiontexas. us, and Noticias RGV 5.2. To view the entire City of Mission 2023 State of the City Address, visit: https://bit.ly/3STARcC.

Your Mayor,

Norie Gonzalez Garza

Police Department has implemented, she quipped, “In the case of crime in Mission, if you build the right infrastructure and programs, criminals will not come!”

City of Mission Honors Veterans with a Week of Celebratory Festivities

The City of Mission hosted an extensive lineup of events in commemoration of Veterans Day, inviting the community to join in honoring the brave men and women who have served the nation selflessly.

Mayor of Mission Norie Gonzalez Garza expressed her excitement for the week-long festivities. ”We are proud to honor our veterans and show them the immense gratitude they deserve. There was so much planned to celebrate our veterans, and we are so happy to have been able to make this year’s Veterans Day extra special for them.”

The events included a R.E.D. Flag Ceremony in observance of Remember Everyone Deployed (R.E.D) Day, where members of the community gathered alongside city leaders to reaffirm their support for the courageous individuals serving our country. On that same day, November 17th, all veterans

CITY OF MISSION CITY COUNCIL

were invited to attend the Veterans Appreciation BBQ at the Mission Parks & Recreation where veterans were treated to a delicious complimentary meal as a token of appreciation for their dedicated service.

On Saturday, November 18th, over 60 floats including local veterans’ organizations, school bands, and other entries took part in the annual Mission Veterans Parade. This year’s Parade had two special guests, Dr. Ivan Melendez, a US National Guard veteran and EMS Medical Director for the Mission Fire Department who served as the Grand Marshal and Assistant City Manager David Flores, a retired Sergeant Major from the US Army, who served as Parade Marshal.

The events came to an end with the Loud and Clear Veteran Music Festival held at 5x5 Brewing Co. which included a vendor market, food trucks, and live music. The City of Mission honors all veterans, and we salute you for your bravery, service, and dedication to our nation!

CITY OF MISSION Police Department (956) 584-5000 Fire Department (956) 580-8705 Public Works

RUBEN PLATA MAYOR PRO-TEM

JESSICA ORTEGA

COUNCILMEMBER, PL. 1

MARISSA ORTEGA GERLACH COUNCILMEMBER, PL. 3

JOSE A. VELA, PharmD COUNCILMEMBER, PL. 4

(956) 580-8780

2 | MISSION Matters | DECEMBER 2023

VETERANS DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Veterans Day Ceremony & Flag Laying The City of Mission honored veterans at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery with a special ceremony attended by family, friends, and the community. After the ceremony and salute to veterans, attendees helped place flags at each headstone.

Veterans Parade & REMEMBER Loud and Clear Veteran

Music Festival

The City of Mission ended the week of festivities and events honoring our veterans with the annual Mission Veterans Parade on November 18th.

The parade was a vibrant display of patriotism, and featured over 60 entries of stunning floats, spirited school bands, horses, and much more.

This year’s Parade Grand Marshal was Dr. Ivan Melendez, a US National Guard veteran and EMS Medical Director for the Mission Fire Department.

The other honoree was Parade Marshal Assistant City Manager David Flores, a retired Sergeant Major from the US Army.

EVERYONE DEPLOYED DAY

On Friday, November 17th, the City of Mission officially declared every Friday R.E.D. Day, making us the only city in Texas with this designation.

We are proud to stand with our nation’s heroes! The city held a R.E.D. Flag Ceremony at the Mission Police Department. Attendees wore red as a symbol of solidarity and appreciation of our servicemen and women. A special thank you to the Marine Corps League of the Rio Grande Valley #1456 for their support to make this possible.

VETERANS BBQ PLATE GIVEAWAY

Following the parade, the celebration continued with a spectacular music festival at 5x5 Brewing Co. The Loud and Clear Veteran Music Festival offered a lively and memorable experience featuring veteran artists across the Rio Grande Valley and Texas.

On November 17th, the City of Mission hosted its annual BBQ Appreciation Luncheon for veterans. The City of Mission staff proudly prepared 1,000 BBQ plates as a token of appreciation to our local heroes. Thank you for your service!

DECEMBER 2023 | MISSION Matters | 3

CITY PROJECTS

Mission Launches No Refusal City Initiative

The City of Mission is now a No Refusal City year-round! Our Mission Police Department has introduced this new initiative to tackle DWI offenses.

“The City of Mission is proud to launch this new initiative which aims to keep our Mission families safe, while also protecting our officers and community,” said Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza. “We are proud of the great work of Police Chief Torres and the Mission Police Department on this initiative, and we know it will help keep our community safe,” she added.

The No Refusal Policy refers to a law enforcement practice where some individuals suspected of driving while intoxicated (DWI) cannot refuse a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test when stopped by the police. As part of the initiative, the Mission Police Department unveiled a new vehicle which is a police unit in the front, and a taxi in the back – delivering a powerful message: Choose your ride wisely!

City of Mission Lowers Tax Rate

Mission Residents Receive New Home

Congratulations to the Reyna family on receiving the keys to their new home, made possible by a CDBG program. Mission’s CDBG Department is dedicated to providing housing assistance to eligible residents, whether it’s for repairs or new construction. For more details about this program, please call 956-580-8670.

Sister Cities: A Historic Collaboration

We are proud to announce that the City of Mission and Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas are now Sister Cities. Thank you to Mayor Nataly Garcia Diaz for the support in this historic collaboration. It’s an honor to foster these connections that transcend borders and bring communities together.

The City of Mission’s financial status continues to be healthy with the city recently approving its 2023-2024 Budget of $140 million.

The city’s budget includes pay raises for all city employees.

“Together, we are a team, and we value all our employees who each contribute to the betterment of our city and our Mission families,” said Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza.

In addition to pay raises, city leaders also approved lowering taxes.

“I am so proud to announce that through strategic planning and fiscal oversight, we have good news for our residents, we the City of Mission, approved a property tax rate decrease for the first time since 2017,” exclaimed Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza.

The new tax rate is $0.5276 per $100 valuation, about a 0.43 percent decrease from last year’s tax rate of $0.5299.

With its healthy budget and steady growth, city leaders also reported that Mission’s property valuation increased from last year – $785 million dollars! That’s a 13.8 percent growth!

Mission Announces $200,000 Ruby Red Ventures Business Grants The Mission EDC has relaunched the Ruby Red Ventures legacy program and will be distributing $200,000 in small business grants. Existing businesses in Mission can apply for the Ruby Red Ventures “Build Mission Fund” grant to receive up to $15,000 for facility improvements, expansions and working capital, among other uses.

Eligible businesses must be located within Mission city limits and have fewer than 30 employees.

For the full list of requirements, please visit https://missionedc.com/rubyredgrant/.

Alliance of South Texas: Fostering Unity and Collaboration

On November 6th, Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza attended the Alliance of South Texas Cities meeting in San Antonio.

This alliance is dedicated to fostering unity and collaboration across the vast South Texas region, bridging the gap from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley.

Mayor Gonzalez Garza joined leaders from throughout the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas to discuss important issues facing our South Texas communities.

“I am so proud of the dedication of our Rio Grande Valley and South Texas leaders as we join together to share our goals, needs, and vision for the future of our region,” said Mayor Gonzalez Garza. “As a delegation, we are able to make meaningful decisions that will positively impact our future as a region,” she added.

“I’d like to thank our city manager— Randy Perez, our administration and finance department employees for their diligent efforts in preparing this year’s budget, and I’d like to thank my colleagues on the Mission City Council for their continued dedication to improving the quality of life for our employees and our residents,” said Mayor Gonzalez Garza. She added, “We are a great team!”

City Tackles Drainage, Completes Project Gabriel

In 2020, the Council commissioned a Comprehensive Storm Drainage Assessment to identify inadequacies and constraints of the existing drainage system, develop improvement plans to reduce flood risks, and prioritize projects in terms of need and which presented the most concern.

Community Tool Shed Grand Opening

Through this Assessment, priority was given to areas that have experienced previous flooding and areas that were highly susceptible to flooding. In total, the City of Mission identified seven priority projects, amounting to approximately $22 million dollars, among them was Project Gabriel.

The City of Mission held a Grand Opening Celebration for the Community Tool Shed! Mission residents will now be able to borrow a wide range of tools, from lawnmowers to power washers, hand tools, shovels, and more, for FREE.

Project Gabriel was the area that posed the most problems of all seven drainage areas because it sat at the lowest point in the city and therefore experienced the most flooding. Residents reported waist-deep waters in recent flooding.

By providing easy access to these tools, the program empowers individuals who don’t have their own equipment to tackle home improvement and maintenance projects.

The Tool Shed is located outside the Speer Memorial Library (801 E 12th St, Mission, TX). Borrowing tools will be as effortless as checking out a book from the library.

“We are proud to say that our worst problem is now solved and should alleviate most of our flooding issues,” said City Manager Randy Perez. He continued, “Project Gabriel, a detention pond, located near the El Valle subdivision, is now completed thanks to the vision of Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza, our city commission, and our partners including Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 and Hidalgo County Precinct 3.”

Individuals must live inside the Mission city limits, provide an ID, and sign the waiver of liability form to be eligible to borrow equipment. You’ll need to submit the application in person. For more information, please call (956) 580-8750.

With these projects, the City of Mission is hopeful that future flooding will be mitigated and remedied, creating safer roadways and reducing property damage.

4 | MISSION Matters | DECEMBER 2023

CITY EVENTS

Mission Celebrates Awareness & Recognitions

National Bullying Awareness Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony The Mission Fire Department held a ceremony to honor the lives lost on 9/11/2001. As we remember the lives lost on that tragic day, we reaffirm our commitment to never forget.

2023 Halloween Spooktacular Festival It was an evening of safe, enjoyable, and spooky good fun as the City of Mission hosted the 2023 Halloween Spooktacular Festival! From the fun costumes, haunted house to the sweet treats, games, and so much more, it was a night to remember for hundreds of attendees. Thank you for spending Halloween at the City of Mission!

“Ticket or Turkey?”

Thanksgiving Giveaway The City of Mission hosted its annual Turkey Drive Thru Giveaway on November 16, 2023.

200 vouchers were available to Mission residents on a first-come, first-served basis.

City official were on hand along with the Mission PD to give fortunate residents who registered for vouchers their complimentary turkey to enjoy for Thanksgiving!

Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting The City of Mission hosted the city’s Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 17, 2023. This free community event was fun for the whole family and included vendors, live music, pictures with Santa, bike and toy raffles, and so much more! The event culminated in a heartwarming moment as Mayor Gonzalez Garza and city officials lit up the Christmas tree to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. Merry Christmas, Mission!

Leagues of Our Own Exhibit The Mission Historical Museum’s Leagues of Our Own exhibit was a total success! Exhibit curator Manuel Hinojosa had the opportunity to speak on the project during the event. Thank you all who stopped by to experience this outstanding exhibit focusing on the baseball history in our area.

Mission Goes Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk The City of Mission and the Greater Gold Foundation hosted the Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk to raise awareness and show support to families going through this difficult journey.

Fire Prevention & Safety Month

National Animal Safety & Prevention Month

Welcome Fire Chief Adrian Garcia!

In September, the City of Mission hosted the official Swearing-In Ceremony for Fire Chief Adrian Garcia. Garcia began his career as a volunteer firefighter in the City of Mission in 1991. He has since had a remarkable 30-year career in public service, having served entities throughout Texas in various capacities.

With his extensive experience and wealth of knowledge, he’s an invaluable asset to our community. We are thrilled to welcome Chief Garcia to our team!

City of Mission Receives $1 Million COPS Grant The Mission Police Department received a $1 million federal grant under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant from the U. S. Department of Justice! The grant will be used to hire eight new officers. Mission is honored to be among the selected cities to receive this grant to enhance communityoriented policing services.

2023 City of Mission Duchesses Congratulations to the 2023 City of Mission Duchesses! These remarkable ladies have shown grace, poise, and talent on the pageant stage. They are actively involved in their schools and serve as role models to our youth. Congratulations to the winners: Duchess of Pomelo Grapefruit Angeline Alexa Rodriguez, Duchess of Honeydew Cecilia Soledad Madrigal, Duchess of White Marsh Grapefruit Lillian Yvette Garza, and Duchess of Butterfly Isabella Jolynn Ortiz.

Princess Anna 74th & Her Tangerine Court Congratulations to the Texas Citrus Fiesta Inc.’s Princess Anna 74th & her Tangerine Court: Princess Anna 74th Adelaide De la Cruz, Princess of Lemon Remi Reyna, Princess of Line Blossom Alessandra Arellano, Princess of Tangerine Blossom Juliette Martinez, Princess of Red Grapefruit Blossom Emilia De los Santos, 1st alternate Olivia De los Santos, and 2nd alternate Natalynn Hernandez.

Miss Mission 2024 Scholarship Pageant The City of Mission hosted the 2024 Miss Mission Scholarship Pageant on November 5, 2023. Congratulations to Miss Mission 2024 Renata Jiménez and Miss Mission Teen 2024 Alexis Garza and thank you to all the amazing participants! We look forward to seeing these incredible ladies represent Mission with style and grace in the upcoming year.

DECEMBER 2023 | MISSION Matters | 5

RIBBON CUTTINGS GROUNDBREAKINGS The City of Mission is growing!

We are so proud to welcome many new businesses to our community. We hope you will continue to shop locally and enjoy the new retail, dining, and shopping experiences now available.

Congratulations to all the new businesses and welcome to the great City of Mission!

IHOP RIBBON CUTTING

BURLINGTON

3503 N. Conway Ave. | Mission, TX (956) 598-7208

311 S. Bryan Rd., Suite 100 A | Mission, TX (956) 997-9943

NEIGHBORHOOD WALMART GRAND OPENING

SCOOTER’S COFFEE

1006 Bryan Rd. | Mission, TX (956) 391-3418

Leaders Tour New Fire & Police Substation 6 Our Mission leaders had the opportunity to tour the new Fire & Police Substation #6, located on Schuerbach Rd. & Military Rd., which is nearly complete! The station will house vital equipment, apparatus, and personnel that will provide quicker response time to the southwest area of Mission. This station will also aid in the growth the fire and police departments will have in the future as our community continues to grow.

700 N. Shary Rd. | Mission, TX (956) 271-4105

My Mission 311 Mobile App With just a few taps, you can notify the appropriate department about issues like potholes, broken streetlights, or code violations. It is an efficient and easy way to report these issues and get them resolved promptly.

Download the FREE app today!

6 | MISSION Matters | DECEMBER 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS Thank You to our Sponsors!

TITLE SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Millennium Engineers Group • Rhodes Management Services • TEDSI Infrastructure Group • Mission Housing Authority • Mission Firefighters Committee • B2Z Engineering • GrantWorks • L&G Engineering • Texas Regional Bank • DHR • The Warren Group • Consor Engineers LLC • Jones, Galligan, Key & Lozano, LLP • Texas National Bank • City of McAllen - Public Utility • Mission Regional Medical Center • Telepro Communication • Lone Star National Bank • Melden & Hunt, Inc. • Killam Developement • Incredibowl • Supreme Engineering • Freedom Bank • Javier Hinojosa Engineering • AEP • Poscillco Civil Inc • Holis Rutledge and Associates • Mission CISD • Halff Associates, Inc. • Mission Chamber of Chamber • SAM Construction Services • UTRGV • Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • Izaguirre Engineering Group • G&G Contractors • ROW Surveying • Radisson Hotel McAllen • M2 Engineering • PlainsCapital Bank • Spikes • ERO Architects • MEDC • CAPA • Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP • City of Edinburg • REIC • Mission Redevelopment Authority • DEC Engineering • City of Palmview • City of Palmhurst • Republic Service • Sharyland ISD • Anzalduas Bridge • Rio Grande Regional • South Texas College • PNC Bank

Want to get involved in your community?

SCAN HERE TO DOWNLOAD ADVISORY BOARD APPLICATION

The City of Mission is currently accepting applications for advisory boards. Applicants must be a resident of the City of Mission. Download an application online: https://missiontexas.us/.../1-APPLICATION-FORBOARDS-2023 or call Anna Carrillo, City Secretary, at 956-580-8721 for more information.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS