City & MEDC Plan to Continue TCF Financial Support
A proposed agreement between the City of Mission, Mission EDC (MEDC) and the Texas Citrus Fiesta (TCF) could turn a longstanding handshake deal into a formal agreement of support for the annual citrus celebration.
A draft contract obtained by the Progress Times would commit the city and MEDC to provide up to $170,000 in funding to TCF and the use of some city resources at no charge. Previously, the city budgeted about $80,000 for TCF and MEDC’s budget shows it chipped in $45,000.
Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza told the MEDC board at its March 26th meeting that the agreement is not finalized and the figure of $170,000 is not set in stone. The funding would be a combination of city and MEDC monies.
“This would be for the next budget year (TCF 2027) so really the only thing in question is the split between the city and the EDC,” the mayor said. “Is it going to be half and half? Is it going to be 25 (percent) 75 (percent)? The split hasn’t been determined and that’s to be determined probably in the next go round.”
The pending memorandum of understanding (MOU) states the funds would be paid in four quarterly payments each calendar year, TCF would have continued rent free use of the building it currently occupies on East 9th Street; use of the Mission Event Center and other venues or parks at no charge, as well as use of a location provided by the city for the fun fair, which features a carnival. The city of Mission would also continue to provide some information technology support and use of parks and public safety personnel during TCF week, held each year in late January.
The MOU has recently bounced around for review by TCF, the city council and the MEDC board of directors for consideration. Co-interim city manager Andy Garcia told the MEDC board that the agreement was still being negotiated.
“Texas Citrus Fiesta is doing its final review,” said Andy Garcia. “The only option here is to give authority to negotiate. And to be quite honest, it’s not anything that hasn’t been provided in the past, it’s not a big adjustment.”
MEDC CEO Teclo Garcia told the board that his office is ready to help.
“We can handle anything in that range,” Teclo Garcia said. “Whether its $70,000 or $120,000 or $150,000 or whatever that number is, at the end of the day, we’re okay with that.”
MEDC attorney Gene Vaughn cautioned that from the EDC standpoint, it should only concern itself with the funding. MEDC board president Richard Hernandez appeared to agree with him.
“I’ll feel more comfortable (taking action) once we negotiate with them,” Hernandez said to Andy Garcia. “Go back and negotiate and come back with a solid number.”
The written funding contract is in development after an operational experiment in which TCF was considered a city department with a full-time employee. The city returned the 96-year old organization to the Kings Association several weeks ago, after the city council and the TCF board clashed over operations and management.
The mayor previously told the Progress Times that the city has provided financial support to TCF for decades, for as long as she can remember.
Former city employee Amy Tijerina was hired as TCF’s executive director earlier this week. She now reports to the TCF board and the Kings Association, instead of the city manager.
Despite the operational disagreements, TCF board president Amanda O’Caña said the board has never considered moving to another city.
“We don’t want to go to another city, we want to be in Mission,” O’Caña said. “And this agreement ensures that we have a good partnership, we make good use of the funding, and we report back to the city on our performance, and financial reports and audits. All of that is perfectly fine.”
O’Caña noted that TCF faces expenses year round, as it acts as a marketing tool for Mission.
“The funding will help cover salary and operating expenses,” O’Caña said. “We also travel to out of town parades with the float and represent the city around Texas. Our duchesses wear their gowns to these events and tell people about fiesta. The agreement will help us be bigger and greater and still service the community of Mission.”
O’Caña said TCF duchesses will represent Mission in two weeks at Viva Fresh in San Antonio. The event calls attention to the trade route used to transport fresh produce from the southern border and is hosted by the Texas International Produce Association. O’Caña said the duchesses will participate in an exhibition where they will promote TCF events and its history within the city of Mission.
