[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6653582,"mediaKeyId","2478163-f18bc9a4b65895ec5db4c3e379c903b9","parentId",2478163,"title","Votes at a glance: Aransas Pass City Council actions include ESA waivers, USDA grant submission and executive-session directives","audioSeconds",5836,"startMs",2719000,"endMs",8555000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478163-f18bc9a4b65895ec5db4c3e379c903b9&start=2719&end=8555","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478163-f18bc9a4b65895ec5db4c3e379c903b9/thumbnail_2719000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653582/Aransas-Pass/Nueces-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Aransas-Pass-City-Council-actions-include-ESA-waivers-USDA-grant-submission-and-executive-session-directives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653582-37bccdc62462ef45d5f4b24d270c67a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150966&Signature=XC4Qvi-oBWTLNL7vm08DUWQhmuXMGRh3wu031keS1UscEFMf8IaMwkU8U6zggEDQa4xpwcCnFYbBnzkW-8KeqiyrBOEyQjVU50jh-qPuR3-gGOUanjj49fqosiw9oFvqFuG9Qz2KCmvbfLQlDBsnXm8PFSs07otMBLY6U~Wk2kCDTGv5QJT6MAZ7~IGuwbGCDGaH11Pwd-ZCc0j7sYY4eBkC7WZK~8O~~PjQgZpNRBn3SVE~rfPzi4VzVlHr4OezmLfjlS5TcJMKBZIapF1lIeqUcBmeecBSR653z-8NADjGko-quDE29-jOO3idkRUUm8pdZvd7wKlRkptKsTDbWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Aransas Pass TX","date","2025-03-04T04:19:10.467Z","article","Aransas Pass City Council on Monday approved several formal actions and recorded multiple votes following public hearings, consent items and an executive session.

Key outcomes

- Minutes and consent items: The council approved the minutes of the Jan. 27, Feb. 3 and Feb. 17 regular meetings by motion and voice vote. (Motion and second on the record; vote: Aye.)

- Environmental assessment waivers (ESA district): Council approved a staff recommendation to waive the engineered environmental assessment at 130 Seaview in the Bay Harbor subdivision. The staff presentation said the lot included a partially constructed house and dock; staff cited the neighborhood's long-established development, lack of identified protected flora or fauna, and the property owner's hardship (cost of an engineered assessment estimated at $12,000'$15,000). The ESA board had recommended approval. (Motion to approve; second; vote: Aye.)

- Environmental assessment waiver for Lighthouse Trails Park (Haines Way): The council approved a waiver to permit installation of composting restrooms at Lighthouse Trails Park, also in an ESA district. Staff said New Year's fire damage removed much of the vegetation in the proposed restroom site; the ESA board and staff recommended the waiver. (Motion to approve; second; vote: Aye.)

- USDA Fire Prevention and Hazard Mitigation grant: The council authorized the fire chief to submit a U.S. Department of Agriculture community wildfire protection grant application for fiscal year 2024-25, not to exceed $655,000. Staff described the proposal as funding brush clearing, creation of fire breaks, equipment rental and purchase of a dedicated mulcher and heavy-duty mower. Staff said the usual 25% cost share would be waived if the city is considered underserved/high risk. (Motion to approve; second; vote: Aye.)

- Bank signature update: The council approved adding Valerie Garcia, accountant, to the CitiBank signature card for city accounts. (Motion to approve; second; vote: Aye.)

Executive session outcomes

After a closed session under the Texas Government Code, the council took the following actions in open session as recorded in the meeting minutes:

- Directed the city manager to negotiate with Captain Katie's concerning relocation to a new location within the Conroe Harbor. (Motion, second; vote: Aye.)

- Directed the city manager to negotiate a settlement agreement with Rockport Terminals LLC. (Motion, second; vote: Aye.)

- Directed Aransas Pass Seafood Packers to pay delinquent rental payments totaling $71,850 by April 3, 2025. The motion was recorded as seconded and carried. (Motion, second; vote outcome: motion carried.)

Votes and procedure notes

Where recorded in the audio, motions were made, seconded and approved by voice vote; several votes were recorded simply as 'Aye.' On some roll-call items the transcript records only the voice vote and not the individual member names. The transcript shows the council also directed staff on next steps for the public-safety facilities item (see separate coverage).

Other staff reports and upcoming items

- Staff presented plans for a $5,000 Veteran's Park mural and basketball-court painting project funded from the parks maintenance line; staff said work would proceed and that the city would contact the contracted artist.

- Staff reported it will bring an amended peddlers/solicitation ordinance to the council on the 17th to clarify that panhandling is covered by the aggressive solicitation provisions; staff noted the city's existing peddler/solicitation regulations and that other cities such as Austin and San Antonio have similar language.

Ending: The council completed its business with several approvals that move permit waivers and the USDA grant forward, and with directives resulting from executive session; the public-safety facility decision will return for further cost analysis following the council's amendment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 03/03/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Aransas Pass City Council approved two waivers of engineering and environmental assessments in ESA districts, authorized a USDA grant application for vegetation management, updated bank signatories, approved consent minutes, and directed the city manager on several executive-session matters.","taxTitle","Aransas Pass, Nueces County, Texas","taxId",57358,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653589,"Resident raises concern about 2024 police restraint; city officials say officers received follow-up training",263,1796000,2059000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478163-f18bc9a4b65895ec5db4c3e379c903b9&start=1796&end=2059","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478163-f18bc9a4b65895ec5db4c3e379c903b9/thumbnail_1796000.jpg","/articles/6653589/Aransas-Pass/Nueces-County/Texas/Resident-raises-concern-about-2024-police-restraint-city-officials-say-officers-received-follow-up-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653589-2b5fed8d90fda916fd9e43ba90994e0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150966&Signature=k9dUOtNW6JGAsc7q4p6LWiqJhbLJpg7nwUmXQPtLC4RwJkx1iuMLdRZPFRJj0uzRO-loBGdBbFS3sBQEKK3IL1h29pJBTbEA8DMutd-9wn6~AT3gdYhpZPZR2F8DigCWbIRMyXFZF0SfH3hTejDErcxzCVLfx~aNYz1DYqhTuPDQSOF50riRIGBDbqEquXWPn6TdlX7YbSXJNKEkts~-sCtIaGdl~DxBKdG9COYwbnfbIFzO1pKWPS6WKnxMqWcW3IZg~1U7dYGmSmw9a5QVi7Et~4JNOpaGYuLn0hJTBEzm3ge1x-7GOY7aagfk6an75qqaUUBR7pUt1RomI7kQOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident told the Aransas Pass City Council that officers failed to follow department policy when they restrained a suicidal person in February 2024, alleging improper use of a leg restraint device and inadequate training for the officers involved.

In public comment, the speaker summarized his concerns about the incident, saying only two officers restrained the person, that a restraining device was used contrary to manufacturer instructions and that the person was left exposed for about an hour. The commenter alleged the department's internal review found no wrongdoing and said that contributed to a perception that leadership was not holding itself accountable.

City response

Following the public comment, a city official identified in the transcript as Darren (role not specified) requested time to respond and spoke with the city attorney before addressing the council. Darren reported that both officers were current on CPR training and that, after the incident (dated in the record as April 1, 2024), all officers involved have since received training on the restraint device. He said one supervisor had training in October 2022 and again in September 2024; a second officer had been trained in September 2024 but staff had not yet confirmed earlier training dates for that officer. Darren said there may have been a training gap for one officer at the time of the incident but that department records show subsequent training was completed.

Why it matters: The comment raised public-safety and accountability questions about how the police department treats persons in crisis and whether staff training and internal reviews were adequate.

Quoted from the meeting

\"No officers followed a PD suicide policy when dealing with a suicidal inmate,\" the commenter said during public comments, summarizing his allegations about the February 2024 incident.

Darren responded: \"All officers have been trained for sure since then on both those devices. We do that every two years.\" (Darren, city official)

What the record shows

The speaker who raised the concern said the incident occurred in February 2024 and alleged procedural and training failures. The city official answering the complaint said he had reviewed training records and identified at least one potential deficiency that staff had since corrected. He did not provide evidence of disciplinary action; instead he described training updates and ongoing record checks. The transcript does not show a formal council action on the allegation.

Ending: The council heard public concern about a 2024 restraint incident and a staff reply that described remedial training; no formal disciplinary action or policy change was recorded in the meeting transcript.","A resident told the Aransas Pass City Council that officers mishandled a restrained, suicidal man in February 2024; a city official responded with a factual update about training and a subsequent audit.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653594,"Aransas Pass council drops new-build GMP, directs study of renovating existing firehouse and adding living quarters",3665,2023000,5688000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478163-f18bc9a4b65895ec5db4c3e379c903b9&start=2023&end=5688","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478163-f18bc9a4b65895ec5db4c3e379c903b9/thumbnail_2023000.jpg","/articles/6653594/Aransas-Pass/Nueces-County/Texas/Aransas-Pass-council-drops-new-build-GMP-directs-study-of-renovating-existing-firehouse-and-adding-living-quarters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653594-01c5c3c0b2cc2bbf1022c4e18503b44c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150966&Signature=V80f4txBZpUvselD~cQ-a1G1w~CsMrToFJ~juE~lQytX~mGlMguUpNmmtapFD6-xh7vZGXsOzcRjwSiun12TbXMN---NtCLNL~MnnXcMPTiFD7If-eyFARDQsDtSpeEyqs2Zdbx05JUS1WmXwdTL~GCdnxc-6BJgJ43GIgixSW6xOamenBySSmzloGkd9wxd1kPBx9dwPME5v~8Dc6jlB3j8~pfGzqN27o~suo07YyblbWrwnFqC9jyxmjbI0surOTDezImJ6ePNlfdkDbkdXOP6uQhYUm6z-FAqKF-tSPZfG9OrJ~as28tmlTt~edDmhRax~ConaOMyagEKNXBQ8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Aransas Pass City Council on Monday declined to approve a guaranteed maximum price for a combined new fire station and police department renovation and instead voted to direct staff to explore renovating the existing fire station to house the police department and to add new living quarters to the west side of the fire engine bay.

Council members had been considering a construction manager-at-risk guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $13,509,563 from Weaver|Jacobs for both projects. Staff reported the total project cost including allowances and design fees would reach about $15.13 million; the standalone construction cost for the proposed new fire station was listed at about $9.59 million.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment and discussion. Council members and residents raised concerns about the city's overall debt load, loss of funds available for street repairs, and whether renovation of existing facilities would be a lower-cost alternative. Several speakers also asked for detailed cost breakdowns from the construction manager at risk and for time to review separate pricing if the council chose to pursue only the fire station now.

Why it matters: The council approved bonds for public safety facilities last year; the outcome determines whether the city proceeds with a new-build approach that would tie up most bond proceeds in a multiyear project or pursues a remodel that could leave more funds available for streets and other needs.

Council discussion and contractor responses

City staff presented the GMP package and a line-item breakdown supplied by the construction manager, Weaver|Jacobs. Chris, identified in the record as a Weaver|Jacobs representative, described the procurement process and said subcontractor bids and detailed cost breakdowns are provided to the city and its representatives.

Justin Myers with Martinez Architects, who participated in the discussion, said renovation options exist but that the project's constrained site and functional requirements limited some choices. \"There's almost always a way where there's a will to do some sort of renovation,\" Myers said, adding that the existing building was not originally designed for a vertical expansion and that any retrofit would require a new evaluation of structure and cost.

City manager Sandra (first name used in the meeting record) flagged three options for council consideration: approve both projects as presented; approve only the fire station and defer police work; or go back to the drawing board and pursue renovation. She warned that redoing designs could delay the timeline and risk higher materials costs in future months.

Several council members and residents pushed for a narrower approach. One council member said the city had spent roughly $1.22 million on design to date and that remodeling could be explored, but emphasized that doing so would require returning to design and bidding and could carry unknown cost risks.

Final action

After debate, Councilman (name not specified in the audio) moved to amend the agenda item language to instead direct staff to look into remodeling the current fire quarters for the police department and to add new living quarters on the west end of the engine bay. That motion was seconded and passed. Council then voted to approve the amended direction to pursue renovation/addition work rather than the GMP as presented. The council did not authorize a GMP payment; the contractor said he would return within about one week with firm separation pricing for the fire-only scope if the council wanted that option.

Quotations from meeting participants

\"Get your best bang for your dollar and get the pricing in now,\" said a Weaver|Jacobs representative while explaining why the two projects were bid together. \"We went through every single step and process that we're supposed to legally, and in a transparent manner.\" (Chris, Weaver|Jacobs)

\"There's almost always a way where there's a will to do some sort of renovation,\" said Justin Myers with Martinez Architects.

What happens next

City staff and the contracted construction manager said they will return with clarified fire-only pricing and, separately, the cost implications of pursuing a renovation path. The council's direction means the city will not proceed immediately on the combined GMP as presented; staff said redesign, re-bidding and a revised timeline would be needed if the council pursues renovation.

Ending: The decision leaves the city's bond funds allocated to public safety on hold while staff compiles new cost information and options for council review.","After months of planning and debate, the Aransas Pass City Council voted to abandon the presented guaranteed maximum price for a new fire station and police renovation and instead directed staff to pursue renovation of the current fire station for police use and construction of new firefighter living quarters on the station's west side.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Aransas Pass City Council actions include ESA waivers, USDA grant submission and executive-session directives

Resident raises concern about 2024 police restraint; city officials say officers received follow-up training

Aransas Pass council drops new-build GMP, directs study of renovating existing firehouse and adding living quarters