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Photos by Jerry Jones
Puerto Vallarta officials and Zona Romántica business owners agreed Tuesday to establish monthly meetings aimed at addressing neighborhood concerns, following a town hall hosted by the city’s Subdirectorate of Sexual Diversity.
The town hall-style meeting, held at Daiquiri Dick’s on the Beach on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, with officials from Sepal and the Sanitation department, focused on improving coordination between local businesses and government agencies on issues including trash collection, sewage infrastructure and electrical service.
Carlos Plascencia, the city’s subdirector of sexual diversity, moderated the discussion, which brought together public officials including Raúl Andrés Aros, SEAPAL Vallarta collection director; representatives from the public sanitation department, and Javier Navarro, the city manager for the downtown and historic districts. Participants agreed to expand future meetings to include additional business owners. The next session is scheduled for July 15 at noon at the offices of Donner & Asociados.
The first topic addressed was sewage system inefficiency, highlighting a wastewater leak that occurred during the 2026 Vallarta Pride Block Party. SEAPAL’s collection director and local business owners agreed to establish better communication to inspect sewage lines ahead of major events. The agency also confirmed it has acquired new equipment for preventative maintenance and cleaning.
Aros agreed to prioritize local utility issues through more direct communication with business owners. He acknowledged the infrastructure challenges posed by the rapid construction of new condominiums in the Zona Romántica, noting that the seasonal population surge strains the city’s current capacity.
Regarding trash collection, local authorities announced that nine new garbage trucks dedicated to the Zona Romántica will begin operating in the coming days. Attendees discussed ways to optimize the current three-times-a-day schedule (7 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.). Proposed improvements include shifting to a night collection schedule and installing strategic trash containment modules to improve the area’s visual appeal.
Although representatives from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) did not attend, Plascencia committed to contacting the utility company to update them on the agreements and secure their attendance at the next meeting.
In addition to infrastructure, Plascencia briefed attendees on Diversity Week, a festival yet to be confirmed but tentatively scheduled for July 29 through Aug. 1 in Zona Romántica. Designed to boost tourism during the low season, the event is expected to feature entertainment, activism, and cultural activities. A official announcement is expected to be released in the coming days.
At the close of the session, organizers emphasized their goal to expand attendance by inviting more private sector members, local authorities, and residents to the July 15 meeting. For updates, community members can follow the Subdirección de Diversidad Sexual Facebook page.
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