A busy night in Uvalde City Council ended with changes in the fitness requirements for the Uvalde Police Department and the dispatch center.
One item not voted on Tuesday night was the final height of standing headstones.
At the previous City Council meeting the parents of Robb Elementary victim Lexi Rubio asked for an exception for the mass shooting victims to have standing headstones. It was approved to happen but the height has not formally been decided on yet.
After discussions the Rubio’s said they would like it to be 30 inches in height with a base included. The city said 24 inches will help allow the sprinkler system to work without damaging headstones.
At the Tuesday council meeting Assistant City Manager Joe Cardenas said they recently spent nearly $200,000 on a new sprinkler system and if the standing headstones are 30 inches or taller they could potentially be damaged by the water. The final height will be voted on at a later date.
Another point discussed is the physical fitness test for UPD officers. Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez said they have chosen the non-consecutive six week DPS physical fitness test.
New recruits would have to pass it to join the force and current officers will have to pass it twice a year.
“That will allow officers to come back and implement the training program the physical fitness program and it will also allow that officer of officers to implement the physical agility test to any new applications who are applying to the Uvalde Police Dept,” Rodriguez said.
The council also unanimously approved a request from UPD to accept a donation from the President of the Texas National Emergency Number Association Cindy McCraw to do a total communication center remodel.
The remodel will include an entire overhaul and aims to be done by October.
The overhaul will include new consoles, project management services, interior upgrades, new dispatch chairs and appliances.
This idea started after the mass shooting occurred and industry partners wondered how they could help dispatchers.
“The equipment is not only going to benefit the 911 center but also members of the community by facilitating the collaboration between agencies in an expeditious and cohesive manner without having to raise taxes,” McCraw said.
Tuesday night Jesus Rizo, a loved one of Robb Elementary victim Jackie Cazares, presented a letter to Uvalde’s City Council.
It asks for the Mayor and council to support the families of the victim’s request to meet with Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phalen.
They hope to ask Phalen to ask Governor Greg Abbott to call a special session to raise the age to buy an assault-style rifle to 21.
Mayor Don McLaughin and the council all signed the letter.
There was also discussion about starting a rec center for Uvalde as they have heard from parents about there being few options for children when it comes to after school programs. Speakers from the Boys and Girls Club came to talk about possibly establishing a center in Uvalde and how they would raise the money to do so to keep the costs low.
