Melissa Ramirez

Melissa Mota Ramirez is a proud San Antonio native, born and raised on the city’s Westside. She graduated from John Jay High School and continued her education locally, earning an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Drafting from St. Philip’s College and a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from the University of the Incarnate Word.

With more than 30 years of experience in public service and land development, Mrs. Ramirez has dedicated her professional career to serving the residents of the City of San Antonio. She began working with the City in April 1995 and joined the Development Services Department in 1998. Over the years, she has held several key positions, including Building Inspector, Plans Examiner, Planning Manager, and Policy Administrator. In November 2016, she was appointed Assistant Director of Land Development, a role she proudly continues to serve in today.

As Assistant Director, Mrs. Ramirez oversees land-use management through the administration of zoning processes and subdivision regulations. She also serves as the Administrator for the City’s Unified Development Code. Her responsibilities include oversight of Master Development Plans, Rights Determinations, Platting, Street Engineering, Tree Preservation, Addressing, and Street Name Changes. Additionally, she manages several boards and commissions such as the Planning Commission, Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee, and serves as Chair of the Southern Edwards Plateau Habitat Conservation Plan. Through her leadership, her team ensures that the horizontal land development process safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of San Antonio residents.

Deeply rooted in Texas history, Mrs. Ramirez comes from a large extended family with eleven generations of Texans based in San Antonio and Dallas. Her ancestry traces back to the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, where she is a direct lineal descendant of Concepcion de Los Angeles Charli Losoya, mother of Toribio Losoya, as well as Juan and Juana Losoya—individuals who fought, survived, and lived on the Alamo grounds. She is an active member and First Vice President of the Alamo Couriers Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, where her mother, Patricia Ann Mota, serves as President.

Passionate about civic engagement and cultural heritage, Mrs. Ramirez has been a member of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission since 2023 and has supported the events—”A Party with a Purpose”—with her family for decades. One of her proudest Fiesta moments came in 2023 when her daughter, Jazzlyn Grace Ramirez, was crowned Miss Fiesta and served as an ambassador for more than 100 community events.

Mrs. Ramirez’s love for her city extends beyond her professional duties. She has volunteered with numerous organizations, including Jammin Jams with the Parks and Recreation Department, Rehabarama, Habitat for Humanity, the San Antonio Food Bank, and the San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. March. Her dedication to San Antonio and its residents is evident in both her career and community involvement, and she remains committed to shaping the city’s future while honoring its historied past.