City Secretary

The City Secretary's mission is to safeguard official records, share information with the public and administer elections.

Vanessa Trevino

City Secretary

Vanessa Trevino has served in a variety of positions with the City of La Joya, including as a Volunteer Firefighter.

She currently serves as: the Public Information Coordinator (PIC) for purposes of compliance with Texas Public Information Act (TPIA); and as the Public Information Officer (PIO).

Department Description

As Permitted by the Home-Rule Charter:

The City Council shall appoint a City Secretary who shall report administratively to the City Manager ...

The duties of the City Secretary shall be to:

prepare and post the notice of Council meetings;
keep the minutes of proceedings of Council meetings;
authenticate by signature and record in full, in a book kept and indexed for that purpose, all ordinances and resolutions passed by the City Council;
hold and maintain the City Seal and affix the Seal to all instruments requiring it; and
perform such other duties as may be specified by the City Council, City Manager, this Charter, or the laws of the State of Texas.

News

City Secretary Services

Meeting Agendas & Minutes

The City Secretary is charged with publishing notices of all public meetings in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Council Regular and Special Meetings are live streamed via our Zoom account. Specific information and links are found in the posted Council meeting agendas.

Persons interested in addressing the Council are required to submit a Public Forum Form to the City Secretary before any Council meeting.

Ordinances & Resolutions

As records custodian, the City Secretary maintains the Home-Rule Charter, Ordinances and Resolutions approved by the Council, as well as Mayoral Proclamations.

The La Joya Home Rule Charter and Ordinances will be codified by American Legal Publishing and made available online later this year.

Public Information

The City Secretary is the official records custodian for the City. The City Secretary also serves as the Public Information Coordinator (PIC) in compliance with the Texas Pubic Information Act (TPIA).

To obtain a publicly-available official record, you may contact the City Secretary or complete and return an Open Records Request Form.

Public Disclosures

State and local laws require certain disclosures relating to purchasing. Check Finance Department for required forms.

Local Government Officers List (Ch 176)
Current Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement(s) (Ch. 176): None.

Elections

The City Secretary charged with administering local elections. However, the City has an agreement with the Hidalgo County Elections Department to administer elections as per state law.

Registered voters may vote in La Joya at:

La Joya Youth Center

604 Salomon Chapa St

La Joya TX 78560

Vital Records

The City may have birth, marriage and death certificates for residents within the La Joya City Limits.

Individuals outside the City may contact the Hidalgo County Clerk's Office for more information.

Board Appointments

The City Secretary coordinates Council appointments to citizen advisory and other boards and committees.

Individuals interested in serving the City must complete a Board Action Form and submit it to the City Secretary 72 hours before a Council meeting.

Department Docs

More information regarding our Department.

None

Department Forms

These forms will improve service delivery. Download, complete and return.

Board Action Form
Open Records Request Form
Public Forum Form

External Links

Learn more about government regulators, funders, professional associations and partners: