South Padre Island City Council Meeting Summary for Feb. 5, 2014

The City of South Padre Island held its Regular Called Council Meeting Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Mayor Robert N. Pinkerton, Jr. issued a proclamation honoring the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the City of South Padre Island. San Antonio and local area representatives from the Military Order of the Purple Heart were present to receive the proclamation. “We are the first city in the Valley to do this,” said Mayor Pinkerton, Jr. “This brings recognition to all veterans, and I think that's important.”
 
The Council voted separately on the items under the Consent Agenda. Consent Agenda item a was approved, minutes of Jan. 13, 2014 Special Meeting and Jan. 15 Regular Meeting; item b was approved with the abstention of Councilman Alex Avalos; items c, Quarterly Investment Report for quarter ending Dec. 31, 2013 as prepared by Estrada Hinojosa & Company, Inc. was approved; item d was tabled, second and final reading of Ordinance No. 14-01 amending Sec. 4-27 of Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of South Padre Island to add a new section 4-27 (Y) which adds a provision that prior to pouring a foundation, the applicant/owner shall be required to have form board survey be prepared by a registered Professional Land Surveyor or registered Professional Engineer and must show building setback lines and exact location of foundation form boards.
 
The motion to approve Item 6 failed with a 3:3 vote: approve correction to minutes of Nov. 13, 2013 Special City Council Meeting.
 
The Council approved Broaddus & Associates Invoice No. 17500-15 in the amount of $22,000 for professional services rendered from Dec. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013; Councilmen Alex Avalos and Barry Patel voted nay. Gilbert Gallegos of Broaddus & Associated said the monthly rate was being renegotiated to a lower price to reflect changes in the scope of work.
 
Administrative Services Director Wendi Delgado presented an update regarding the process of hiring a new City Manager. Delgado presented a tentative timeline provided by Strategic Government Resources, SGR, which was the firm selected by the Council to head the search. The timeline set the Council and SGR meeting to select the top 4-6 candidates on Feb. 12; releasing the candidates' names and information to the public on Feb. 17; having the finalists tour the island on Feb. 20, with a public event (yet to be determined) on that day to meet the community; and final interviews with the City Council on Feb. 21.
 
Four Public Hearings were on the agenda to make additions and amendments to the City's Code of Ordinances: Item 12, Public Hearing to discuss adding Sec. 20-4.2 to Chapter 20 (Zoning) of the City of South Padre Island Code of Ordinances by adding “Staff Responsibility”; Item 14, Public Hearing to discuss creating Sec. 20-16.3 of Chapter 20 (Zoning) of the South Padre Island Code of Ordinances by adding “Special Exceptions Procedure”; Item 16, Public Hearing to discuss amending Sec. 20-21 of Chapter 20 of the South Padre Island Code of Ordinance by adding City's right to maintain trees and guidelines for planting trees in public easements; and Item 18, Public Hearing to discuss amending Sec. 15-2 of Chapter 15 (Signs) of the City of South Padre Island Code of Ordinances to revise definition of “Sign” and “Sign Area.” Item 13, first readings of Ordinance No. 14-02 adding Sec. 20-4.2 to Chapter 20 of the City's Code of Ordinances, was tabled; Item 17, first reading of Ordinance No. 14-04 amending Sec. 20-21 of the Chapter 20 of the City's Code of Ordinances was tabled; and Item 19, first reading of Ordinance No. 14-05 of the City's Code of Ordinances was also tabled.
 
The Council approved a budget amendment in the amount of $170,524 from the Beach Maintenance budget for the purchase of a Broyhill Load and Pack for beach maintenance operations. The Broyhill Load and Pack will allow a single operator to empty the trashcans on the beach without manual lifting, thereby reducing the manpower needed to empty the barrels and reducing the potential for work-related injuries.
 
For a complete board agenda or to view meetings online, visit www.myspi.org. City of South Padre Island Regular Called Council Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 4601 Padre Boulevard.

City of South Padre Island