The fight for Rosarito’s municipal status wasn’t easy—but it wasn’t impossible either, says José Luis Ibarra Arenas, a prominent attorney and founding member of the Comité Pro Municipio. Reflecting with pride and nostalgia, Ibarra recalls how he and other community leaders worked to lay the groundwork for what would become a model city on the Baja California coast.

After Rosarito officially achieved municipal status in 1995, one of the first steps taken by the newly formed Concejo Municipal—under the leadership of accountant Hugo Eduardo Torres Chabert—was to establish legal and administrative structures to guide the city’s future. These included foundational regulations in infrastructure, tourism, and local economic development, all aimed at proving to the state government and legislature that Rosarito could function independently and effectively.

Ibarra served on several key commissions within the council, including the Commission on Governance, Legislation and Constitutional Affairs; the Commission on Public Administration; and the Commission on Tourism and Public Safety.

“The Commission on Governance and Constitutional Affairs was one of my favorites,” Ibarra recalled. “It went hand in hand with the Public Administration Commission. These two are the foundation of any city council—they ensure the smooth operation of municipal government. They’re essential for drafting regulations, reforms, and adjustments based on the real needs of society, because every day brings new challenges that must be addressed.”

The council, he explained, was proposed by Hugo Torres and selected by members of the Comité Pro Municipio. From a list of roughly 70 candidates, the State Congress approved seven main councilors and their alternates. The council formally took office on December 1, 1995, installing its operations at the Abelardo L. Rodríguez Park.

At the time, councilors were appointed by the State Congress rather than elected through popular vote, as is now the standard in Mexico.

One of their earliest responsibilities was to begin drafting essential municipal regulations—from public safety and emergency services to administrative processes and civil protection codes. “We had to build everything from scratch,” Ibarra said.

The council also began identifying qualified individuals to fill key positions in the new municipal government. Priority areas included infrastructure development, economic planning, and tourism—alongside the necessary legal frameworks to support these sectors.

He recalled with pride how the council negotiated with private landowners to secure the site for what would become Rosarito’s municipal building. The same period also saw the arrival of major film productions—including Titanic—that brought attention and investment to the area.

Public safety was another urgent matter. “At the time, Rosarito only had three patrol vehicles, even though it already had the population of a full municipality,” he said. The council pushed for new equipment and the hiring of additional officers to serve the growing city.

Within less than a year, the council had developed the basic legal and administrative framework needed for the city to function on its own. Their progress, Ibarra emphasized, was made possible by their deep knowledge of Rosarito and an unwavering commitment to its future.

Today, many of the original council and Comité Pro Municipio members—now elderly—continue sharing their experience in local schools and universities, helping new generations understand what it takes to build and sustain a thriving city.

“Citizen unity and participation were the driving forces behind Rosarito’s transformation,” Ibarra said. “And they remain essential to its continued development.”