District 2 Council Member· 2025-2029
Joaquin J. Zamora
McAllen
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 16
- Total speaking time
- 40:16
- Avg per meeting
- 2:31
- Segments
- 658
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Top issues during term (20)
Economic Growth and Budget
$647 million total budget with general fund appropriations of $180 million.
Infrastructure and Public Works
Contract expenditure of $191,614.14.
2026 Tax Rate
About $67.3 million collected so far this fiscal year, a 96.88% rate.
Industrial Rezoning at 4716 Buddy Owens Blvd
Loss of potential commercial tax yield weighed against protection of neighborhood property values.
Unified Development Code Rezonings
Brackish Groundwater Treatment Plant Financing
$49,355,000 bond issuance with estimated interest savings exceeding $6.6 million.
Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue Bonds
This involves a $49,355,000 bond issuance to fund critical water infrastructure improvements.
Nightclub permitting and downtown safety
Bars could see changes to their bottom line with new rules and potentially shorter hours.
Newport duplex redevelopment traffic and alley access
Grant Applications for Historic Preservation, Law Enforcement, and Crime Prevention
$407,828 in grant funds for the region.
Event center rezoning near west-side neighborhoods
Conditional Use Permit Denial for Maddie's Pumpkin Patch
Tres Lagos Project Status and Developer Reimbursement
The developer requested a reimbursement of $1,035,724.95 from TIRZ funds.
2026-2027 Service and Assessment Plan
Establishes annual assessments for property owners within the Tres Lagos Public Improvement District.
Old Town Neighborhood Preservation
The city hopes this will spur private investment in downtown properties.
Sidewalk Infrastructure Requirements in Pecina Estates
Potential transfer of sidewalk installation costs between developers and the city.
mixed-use development
This could mean a big boost to local businesses and potentially more housing options, but we'll have to see how it shakes out.
Regional Animal Shelter Intergovernmental Agreement
Annual contract cost of $875,000.
Affordable Homes of South Texas Loan Conversion
Converts $251,130.14 of outstanding loan receivable and interest into a direct grant, removing it as a repayable asset on the corporation's balance sheet.
emergency preparedness
Investing in these drills now helps avoid the massive, chaotic costs of a botched emergency response later.
Moved or seconded (40)
Motions Zamora personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.
- movedpassed2026-07-13
Commissioner Joaquin Zamora moved to award the contract as recommended.
- movedpassed2026-07-13
Commissioner Joaquin Zamora moved to amend ordinance as recommended.
- secondedpassed2026-07-13
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- movedpassed2026-07-13
Consideration of a variance request to not require right-of-way dedication for South 2 nd Street for the proposed 7-11 McAllen Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas; 201 Dallas Avenue. VAR2026-0015
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-07-13
Resolution in support of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TXDOT) removal of the Pedestrian Overpass Bridge at 23 rd Street between Fresno Avenue and Erie Avenue
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-07-13
Providing of an Ordinance for the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Annual Action Plan, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs, and authorizing submission of the plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-07-13
Consideration of Economic Development matters. Tex. Gov’t. Code §551.087
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-07-13
Providing for a Budget Amendment for FM2220 Landscape Medians
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- movedpassed2026-06-22
Award of Contract: Golf Course Hydrologic Analysis
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-06-22
Consideration of a variance request to not provide for the east-west ¼ mile collector street for the proposed Hernandez Acres Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas, 14601
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-06-22
Advisory Board Appointments
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-06-22
move to approve the items listed on the Routine Items section of the agenda
- movedpassed2026-06-22
Consideration of variance requests to 1) exceed the maximum block length; 2) no southward extension of North 27 th Lane for proposed Imperio Estates Phase II Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas; 8600 N. 29 th Street. VAR2026-0022
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- movedpassed2026-06-22
Consideration of a variance request to not provide for the east-west ¼ mile collector street for the proposed Hernandez Acres Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas, 14601
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-06-22
The Engineer will be responsible for project oversight and the daily management of the project
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed2026-06-22
Mayor Pro Tem Jose R. "Pepe" Cabeza de Vaca moved to approve the items listed on the Consent Agenda
- movedpassed2026-06-08
Award of Contract for the Lindberg Avenue and 6 th Street Drainage Improvements (Project No. 04-26-C22-655)
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- movedpassed2026-06-08
approve the items listed on the Routine Items section of the agenda
- secondedpassed2026-06-08
Consideration of variance requests to 1) not dedicate the required Right-of-Way on S. 10 th Street, and 2) allow a lot for development without frontage on a public street for the proposed The Cue Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas; 2801 S. 10 th Street
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- movedpassed2026-06-08
Consideration of a variance request to not provide for the east-west ¼ mile collector street for the proposed Hernandez Acres Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas, 14601
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
Decisions during term (497)
Recorded while Zamora was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Rezoning 204 South 4th Street (REZ2026-0144)
City-initiated UDC rezonings (REZ2026-0149, -0159, -0166)
Rezoning 1317–1333 South 18th Street (REZ2026-0148)
Rezoning 1409 North Main Street (REZ2026-0142)
Heaven Nightclub conditional use permit (CUP2026-0074)
Consent agenda (items 2.A through 2.J)
Ordinance appointing presiding municipal court judge (3.A)
Ballesteros Subdivision cul-de-sac variance (VAR2026-0034)
McAllen Flex Complex street-frontage variance (VAR2026-0036)
Advisory board appointments (5.B)
Amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of McAllen.
Approval of Minutes of Workshop and Regular Meeting held October 12th and Special Meeting held October 13, 2026.
Resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Texas Historical Commission, for funding under the Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant Fiscal Year 2027 - Historic Resources Survey/Inventory Project.
Resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Texas Historical Commission for funding under the Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant Fiscal Year 2027 - Preservation Plan.
Resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance for funding under the Fiscal Year 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
Resolution adopting the 2026 City of McAllen Tax Roll.
Consideration and Approval of Resolution Expressing Official Intent to Reimburse with Tax-Exempt Obligation Proceeds Costs Associated with Certain Capital Improvements to the McAllen International Airport.
Subdivision Monthly Report.
Parks & Recreation Monthly Project Status Report.
Project Status Monthly Report through September 30, 2026.
Voting record (39)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Approval of Routine Public Hearing Rezonings and Conditional Use Permit
Consent Agenda Items (Excluding Item I)
Award of Contract for McAllen Heritage Center New Storage Building
Award of Contract for Los Encinos Turf Field
Employee Health Plan Recommendations Approval
Convention Center Fire Alarm System Contract Award
Variance Request for Villas at Tres Lagos Phase II Subdivision
Mayor Pro Tem Jose R. "Pepe" Cabeza de Vaca moved to approve the variance as recommended
TABC Distance Variance for 1400 Savannah Avenue
Routine Rezonings and Conditional Use Permits
Consent Agenda Items 2A through 2K
Halff Associates Engineering Contract for New Golf Course H&H Analysis
Pouring Rights Agreement Term Contract
Military Highway Right-of-Way Abandonment
Airport Improvement Project Budget Amendment
Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Update
Imperio Estates Phase II Subdivision Variances
Advisory Board Appointments
Hernandez Acres Subdivision Variance
Mayor Pro Tem Jose R. "Pepe" Cabeza de Vaca moved to award the contract as recommended
Approval of Routine Public Hearing Rezonings
Award of Auditing Services Contract
Award of Contract for Lindberg Avenue and 6th Street Drainage Improvements
Authorization to Negotiate CEI Services for FM2220 Underground Trail Passing
Adoption of Utility Easement Abandonment Ordinance
Approval of Variances for Alhambra on 10th Phase II Subdivision
Table Variance Request for Hernandez Acres Subdivision
Approval and Disapproval of Variances for J & A Ranch Subdivision
Approval of Variances for The Cue Subdivision
Conditional Use Permit for AEP Texas Substation
Disapproval of Rezone from I-1 to A-O at 7401 South 10th Street
Moved to disapprove of the A-O zoning as recommended by staff.
Denial of Rezone from R-1 to C-1 at 1320 Kendlewood Avenue
Stated that while the proposed business is desirable, Old Town's boundaries must be protected from commercial encroachment.
Denial of Rezone from R-1 to R-2 at 1708 North 8th Street
Noted the triplex would be non-conforming and open up concerns in a peaceful single-family neighborhood.
Approval of Conditional Use Permit for Toloa Rooftop with Restrictions
Offered the motion to approve with strict conditions following persistent noise complaints.
approve
approve the item
Downtown Rezoning to CC-DT
Voted against the rezoning, expressing concerns over lack of comprehensive downtown planning and communication with property owners.
Transportation Network Company Operating Permits and Fees
Argued that the $3 fee is premature and places an unnecessary surcharge on passengers given the airport's current volume.