Award, leadership roles and presentation continue to demonstrate excellence at Rio Grande Valley’s leading municipality
Texas Border Business
During the 2018 Texas Municipal League (TML) Annual Conference and Exhibition at the Fort Worth Convention Center on October 10-12, the City of McAllen was presented a 2018 Municipal Excellence Award in the communication programs category for cities over 25,000 in population.
The award recognized the City of Mcallen for the McAllen Update newscast. On hand at the conference to accept the award were members of the City of McAllen administration, directors from various departments and staff.
The McAllen Update is a bi-weekly newscast that outlines current and future City of McAllen projects. Each informative and entertaining 10- to 15-minute video keeps community members engaged and up-to-date about local events, City of McAllen projects and initiatives, as well as important McAllen City Commission meeting decisions. The McAllen Update is distributed through the City of McAllen’s YouTube and television station, Ch.1300 on Spectrum, and is posted on digital monitors throughout municipal buildings.
The newscast is also shared on the City of McAllen’s successful social media platforms, which have a combined following of more than 80,000 people. The McAllen Update is a great tool for the City of McAllen because it positively shines the spotlight on city agendas and programs that are improving residents’ quality of life.
“The McAllen Update is an excellent example of the great work that is done every day by the talented, professional, dedicated and creative staff of the Office of Communications who work hard to ensure that our citizens, neighboring communities and media partners are informed with the most accurate and current updates on the City of McAllen,” said McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E.
TML’s Municipal Excellence Awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Texas cities in meeting the challenge of municipal governance. Innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, increasing citizen participation, and reaching toward higher service levels are all daily occurrences in Texas cities, and they deserve recognition. This awards program seeks out the best of these programs to honor. Awards are given in two population categories: under 25,000 and over 25,000 – and in five subject categories: management innovations; communication programs; city spirit; public safety; and public works.
Additionally, the City of McAllen was featured throughout the conference. Kate Horan, Library Director of the McAllen Public Library, serves as the President of the TML Directors Association.
Aside from helping to staff the TMLDA booth in the Exhibit Hall, Horan organized and moderated a session on “Digital Connectivity and Your City,” which featured a panel of library directors from Austin and Fort Worth, and the State Librarian from Texas State Library and Archives Commission on ways to bridge the digital divide through libraries and innovative solutions. She also presented a resolution before the TML board to reauthorize the mission and purpose of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. It passed unanimously.
At a separate panel, Assistant City Manager Joe Vera hosted a presentation with Gayle Hale of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau on municipal sponsorship opportunities entitled “Finding Gold at the Intersection of Brands, Events, and Cities.” The panel focused on developing sponsorships plans and inventive ideas of what assets cities can use.
TML is a voluntary association of 1,158 Texas cities. Guided by its purpose statement—Empowering Texas cities to serve their cities—the League provides support and services to city governments. The City of McAllen is a member of TML.
The 2018 TML Annual Conference and Exhibition attracted more than 2,400 city officials, who learned ways to govern more effectively, discussed critical issues, and shared best practices and solutions. For further information about TML and the awards program, contact Rachael Pitts at 512-231-7400 or rpitts@tml.org.
