Edinburg city manager position set for consideration and possible actions by Edinburg City Council beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10

Actions on the possible selection of a new city manager is set for Tuesday, November 10, when the Edinburg City Council, which includes the mayor, is scheduled to hold an executive session, beginning at 3 p.m. at Edinburg City Hall, which is located at 415 W. University Drive. City Manager Ramiro Garza, Jr., on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, announced he would be leaving his position effective January 1, 2016, to pursue new endeavors. Any decision made by the mayor and city council would have to be made in the open, following the executive session. The meeting follows a previous gathering, held on Monday, November 2, 2015, when the city council went behind closed doors (executive session) – as allowed by state law – to conduct interviews for the soon-to-be vacant city manager position. No decision was finalized following the November 3, 2015 city council session, nor was their any public announcement of the candidates interviewed to take over as the city government’s top administrative leader. Garza, 41, has been responsible for more than 700 employees overseeing a $100 million operational budget. He has also continued to work closely with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation having collaborated in recruiting new economic development projects that will boost the city’s economy by more than $1.2 billion. The EEDC, of which Agustín García, Jr., is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg City Council. The EEDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mark Iglesias as President, Harvey Rodríguez as Vice President, Ellie M. Torres as Secretary/Treasurer, and Mayor Richard García and Richard Ruppert as Members. Garza served as Executive Director for the EEDC for nine years and three months before he was selected by the Edinburg City Council in November 2009 to serve as city manager. According to the City Council agenda posting, the following items will be deliberated in executive (closed) session regarding: Proposed amendment to current agreement for professional services and employment as city manager to provide for extension of term; Appointment of city manager position; and Proposed agreement for professional services and employment for newly appointed city manager.

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City manager position set for consideration and possible actions by Edinburg City Council beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10

By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]

Actions on the possible selection of a new city manager is set for Tuesday, November 10, when the Edinburg City Council, which includes the mayor, is scheduled to hold an executive session, beginning at 3 p.m. at Edinburg City Hall, which is located at 415 W. University Drive.

City Manager Ramiro Garza, Jr., on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, announced he would be leaving his position effective January 1, 2016, to pursue new endeavors.

Any decision made by the mayor and city council would have to be made in the open, following the executive session.

The meeting follows a previous gathering, held on Monday, November 2, 2015, when the city council went behind closed doors (executive session) – as allowed by state law – to conduct interviews for the soon-to-be vacant city manager position.

No decision was finalized following the November 3, 2015 city council session, nor was their any public announcement of the candidates interviewed to take over as the city government’s top administrative leader.

Garza, 41, has been responsible for more than 700 employees overseeing a $100 million operational budget.

He has also continued to work closely with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation having collaborated in recruiting new economic development projects that will boost the city’s economy by more than $1.2 billion.

The EEDC, of which Agustín García, Jr., is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg City Council.

The EEDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mark Iglesias as President, Harvey Rodríguez as Vice President, Ellie M. Torres as Secretary/Treasurer, and Mayor Richard García and Richard Ruppert as Members.

Garza served as Executive Director for the EEDC for nine years and three months before he was selected by the Edinburg City Council in November 2009 to serve as city manager.

According to the City Council agenda posting, the following items will be deliberated in executive (closed) session regarding:

• Proposed amendment to current agreement for professional services and employment as city manager to provide for extension of term;

• Appointment of city manager position; and

• Proposed agreement for professional services and employment for newly appointed city manager.

Although the salary range was not listed, according to a posting of the city manager vacancy listed by the Texas Municipal League, some of the qualifications being sought by the mayor and city councilmembers include:

Compensation

The City offers excellent benefits including paid holidays, vacation/sick leave, health, dental, life, and disability insurance, retirement system and optional deferred compensation programs.

Job Description

The City of Edinburg is a Home Rule City with a Council-City Manager form of government with an approved City Charter. The City Council is elected for a four year term, elected at large, by places, and majority vote required.

The purpose of this position is to direct, plan, manage and review activities and operations of the city. Other duties include directing and managing implementation of goals and objectives; formulating and administering city budget; attending City Council meetings and workshops; collaborating with Edinburg Development Corporation to promote economic opportunities, and other duties as assigned.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration or related field. Master’s degree in Public or Business Administration preferred. A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the public sector with at least (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a department head or higher. The mayor and city council reserve the right to waive any requirements or formalities in the best interest of the city.

Employment Requirements

Applicant will be subject to a complete background investigation. Incomplete, inaccurate and/or failure to report information will cause the applicant rejection from consideration.

Applicant must take and pass a pre-employment drug screening administered by the City of Edinburg appointed physician at the city’s expense.

Applicant must have a current valid class “C” driver’s license from the Texas Department of Public Safety with a satisfactory driving record.

The city charter requires the city manager to maintain residency within the city during his/her tenure in the position.

Bilingual: English/Spanish preferred.

NEW CHIEF OF POLICE, ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE SWORN IN NOVEMBER 3

A week earlier, on Tuesday, November 3, the mayor and city council took care of another important vacancy when they swore-in a new chief of police and assistant chief of police.

According to the city’s Public Information Department:

David Edward White takes over the Edinburg Police Department with an authorized strength of 143 – 118 police officers, 17 sergeants, six lieutenants, and two assistant chiefs.

White has been with the Edinburg Police Department for 25 years. Most recently he served as a lieutenant overseeing the Patrol Division.

He began his career in 1991 as a patrolman. In 1994 he was promoted to corporal assigned to the Patrol Division. He became a sergeant in 1996 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2009.

White has more than 4,000 hours of training in traffic law, management, hostage negotiations, cyber-crimes, sex crimes, firearms, asset forfeiture, identity theft, crime scene investigation, hazardous materials, interview and interrogation techniques, arrest search and seizure, child abuse and SWAT.

Additionally, he holds a Master Peace Officer’s License and a TCLEOSE Instructor License. He is also a Breath Test Operator, a Mental Health Officer, Advanced Hostage Negotiator and is certified as an Animal Control Officer and in Euthanasia.

White attained a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from The University of Texas Pan American in 2002. He also attended the Sam Houston State University, Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Institute of Texas, Command Staff Leadership Series in 2013 and the Southwestern Law Enforcement Police Supervisors Course in 2000.

Meantime, Lt. Óscar Treviño was promoted to Assistant Police Chief, making him the first to hold the newly created position.

Treviño has 28 years of law enforcement experience; 22 of those spent as a supervisor providing services of leadership, planning, managing, and organizing. Most recently he served as a lieutenant overseeing the Criminal Investigation Division and serves as spokesperson for the police department.

He began his law enforcement career as a jailer with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department upon his graduation from Edinburg High School in 1985.

Trevino holds a Master Peace Officer’s License and an Advanced Peace Officer’s License. He is also certified in Advanced Child Abuse Investigation, Crisis Intervention, Combined Asset Forfeiture, Crime Scene Investigation, Arrest Search and Seizure, Drug Raid Planning, Family Violence/Sexual Abuse, Basic Swat, Elderly Abuse, Identity Theft, Advanced Homicide, Cultural Diversity, Racial Profiling, Use of Force and Traffic Investigations.

He was the first and only Edinburg police officer trained and certified in Forensic and Investigative Hypnosis. He also attended the Sam Houston State University, Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Institute of Texas, Command Staff Leadership Series in 2015.

On July 20, 2015, he was one of five officers honored for their bravery involving two separate shootings.

Treviño was awarded the Medal of Valor and Citation for his bravery and courage in the performance of his duties involving a shooting in the City of La Joya where several Edinburg police officers were ambushed as they attempted to identify a vehicle related to an Edinburg homicide case.

He has also received a Commendation Award for his duties involving a major burglary case by the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District and a Commendation Award for his duties involving the Estrella Rojas Capital Murder Investigation which occurred in 2000.

Treviño joins Assistant Chief Peter De La Garza and White, who takes over for Chief Rolando Castañeda who retired in July.