[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6623255,"mediaKeyId","2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead","parentId",2776069,"title","Resident urges more Spanish-language voting materials and clarity on tourism duties; communications staff outline outreach and video series","audioSeconds",3464,"startMs",165000,"endMs",3629000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead&start=165&end=3629","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead/thumbnail_165000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623255/Bay-City/Matagorda-County/Texas/Resident-urges-more-Spanish-language-voting-materials-and-clarity-on-tourism-duties-communications-staff-outline-outreach-and-video-series","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623255-e9f588db5a2877ab2b2747752e42d0e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201806&Signature=NAVsMWxObqHobLI8RSRhfXCNUaEg1Ph6nnQB8pIzMxTUXsZbFPkUd2F0Nbof5U8Lj00QefKQQdI9eXTYdmrQAEsmQRx82c87P3rM5VwfvwDtlslqMyz220ak0fjNBJbqMRMPqqwXjIcrFQj2zbvCjvZYzP3bXFrjNNHLmN~Lpc5m5vVsipbxdbdUvTX0YbVVuX2ba0HmpArjKOZxTa-OIlLJCTjWdL~MCMU8PQ4qeCXm7EsmRsOqiRdHE6Lrs9mgbvQ3HB7dvAyI4YcTP7sO1IRy7a04uWcW8N44qSTZj2-TSMME5h4WnqeWz31~C7tOFQZ8Je7HLzxeiudtMKRMdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bay City","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","A member of the public urged Bay City leaders to improve how election and municipal information is posted in Spanish, and to clarify tourism staffing amid uncertainty about who manages tourism duties.

During public comment Jessica Shepherd said she had checked the city’s online materials for the upcoming charter election and could not find Spanish‑language election information; she described clicking through the website and encountering broken links and a “404” error when looking for municipal-elections information. Shepherd also said members of the tourism and hospitality community had told her they did not know who to contact because tourism duties were being split among staff; she identified Samantha Denbow as the communications and cultural arts department head and said tourism responsibilities were being shared among staff including a Main Street manager and cultural-arts staff.

Shepherd also said she had heard rumors — which she reported as rumors during public comment — that city administration had plans to run a smear campaign targeting the Bay City Sentinel and certain community members. She attributed the allegation to what she said she had been told by other employees and members of the public and framed the point as a transparency concern for the council to address.

City communications staff later addressed council during the Communications and Cultural Arts presentation. Samantha (Sam) Dembo (presentation materials in the meeting packet identified the communications office) said a communications plan and materials for the charter election were in development. Staff reported a notice of election will be distributed in both English and Spanish in accordance with code requirements for distribution timelines, and staff described postcards with QR codes that will link to election information including Spanish‑language content. Dembo said a communications‑manager hire was nearing completion and that the department planned a “We Are Bay City, Texas” video series — produced with a local vendor — to highlight city departments; the first video in the series will feature the police department and the series will be used for recruiting and outreach.

Council members later thanked staff for the communications update; staff said they would continue to work on outreach and to provide printed and digital materials in both languages where required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bay City - City Council - Mar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident told Bay City council that online charter-election materials were not available in Spanish and raised concerns about tourism staffing; communications staff responded that bilingual notices and postcards with QR codes will be distributed and said a new communications manager hire and a video campaign are forthcoming.","taxTitle","Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas","taxId",69557,"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},6623259,"Bay City Police chief presents 2024 annual report; department cites lower crime index and expanded training",699,1302000,2001000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead&start=1302&end=2001","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead/thumbnail_1302000.jpg","/articles/6623259/Bay-City/Matagorda-County/Texas/Bay-City-Police-chief-presents-2024-annual-report-department-cites-lower-crime-index-and-expanded-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623259-00be3c6102b7b8b447f9f44a11883163/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201806&Signature=lJGkklL3-9YjzZgbjbiKEU99zPsgLjUTFH5Tnt0KYvkLXoJt3cv~u3p~kGxHA8Sb9DDaQQyXq14T~2VPhoK7eJHbxOQnpDV3xzsdFze455lOCF-KzU22wmqfClqbFZ7wBhhPUiGQeub~l7Rhc36nVCdiOw-YTjZaghPvtjkT3XISf53j-oTas~sitdRGevrGn8bnpM9b3PwV~GpjLdurzWcFnG6a8Out4TZASKf5PdmxwaZfw1uCwLnMQ4XzuqQpuWkIjSvfCVyYWWUzLK-iWMyOK~duPUoBC5C81tVCkuZVOSXjcgIO6LO8iKqn-myi2NL4WQdPMre4gnuTEg4SEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bay City Police Chief Cristela Rodriguez presented the department’s 2024 annual report to council, highlighting accreditation, staffing and training efforts and year‑over‑year crime trends.

Rodriguez said the department achieved reaccreditation from the Texas Police Chiefs Association and continued recruiting efforts at local academies and hiring events to address staffing shortages. She cited technological upgrades completed in 2024, including the integration of online reporting and radio encryption.

The department reported roughly 27,000 calls for service (staff noted the counting methodology changed after code enforcement moved to public works), about 4,330 contact/traffic stops and 1,009 arrests for the year. Rodriguez said the Uniform Crime Index showed declines in several categories: criminal homicides were down by three (reporting zero the prior year), simple assaults down by 74 incidents, burglaries down by 32, and motor-vehicle thefts down by six. Officers responded to 188 family‑violence calls in 2024 compared with 247 the previous year.

Rodriguez highlighted community programs such as the Christmas Shop at the Cop, scholarships and victim services funded through grant positions. The department provided 6,309 hours of training in 2024, up from 3,963 hours in the prior reporting period, and certified five officers as instructors in active‑shooter response so the department can provide in‑house training required by state law.

Council members thanked the chief and staff; Rodriguez said the full 2024 annual report would be posted to the city website along with accomplishments for the year.","Chief Cristela Rodriguez presented the Bay City Police Department’s 2024 annual report, noting reaccreditation, expanded training hours, integration of online reporting and radio encryption, and declines in several crime categories; council received the report and staff will post it to the city website.",{"_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},6623264,"Union Pacific and LyondellBasell present proposed 4.5‑mile rail connection to Bay City site",68,2377000,2445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead&start=2377&end=2445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead/thumbnail_2377000.jpg","/articles/6623264/Bay-City/Matagorda-County/Texas/Union-Pacific-and-LyondellBasell-present-proposed-45mile-rail-connection-to-Bay-City-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623264-16d707b8c95b2b40ce9b2206b34f6c86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201806&Signature=ciQLrt9zj7H-YUNl3-YaKNw-p78MDKNTcxVt1e48wakS-~Ynk1FFXihXaYlVHIOHo1uBbZxeM65uwagFd9-EWgdzTjlYE3uozOifhGA9s4HJJ94b2HTNreGYqDDo7BlrT79CCozOsSTSUf-j7BNVMA0WonyIYd5FEfZF6pdgRd2nuLtzOfQHLb0usGhLFnQYiguVt8HBuRcxzzuGp9F~pMFYTyyd6p0lAOYskm3IhAI-9MhrMFoMV8F7czeW2-OZTN0jjFEr61Au9wyeukWTftEiuml65GMT3CGcaQ4s0NWTXe0QNiLSry~xfYkwgWA2jaxjCx8utyFjYL2quz3rsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Union Pacific Railroad and LyondellBasell representatives briefed the Bay City City Council on a proposed roughly 4.5‑mile rail extension that would connect the LyondellBasell Bay City plant to Union Pacific’s national network.

Richard Zentek, senior director of public affairs for Union Pacific, said the rail connection would strengthen the company’s regional position and could support future investments, and that the railroad had begun contacting landowners along the proposed corridor to discuss property acquisition needs. Zentek said the project should reduce downtown switching movements by removing current switch moves that occur in Downtown Bay City.

Mike Middleton, site manager for LyondellBasell’s Matagorda County facility, said the connection provides operational flexibility for the site and opportunities for future growth. Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Mike Ferdinand told council the investment is important for making the facility and the county competitive for industry and workforce recruitment and that it should reduce problematic switching that can delay emergency response in town.

Union Pacific representatives said they want to work with the city and local stakeholders during outreach and that they will be available to answer questions as the project advances. No formal council action was requested or taken during the presentation.","Union Pacific and LyondellBasell briefed council on plans to build about 4.5 miles of rail infrastructure connecting the LyondellBasell Bay City facility to Union Pacific’s network; the project will involve landowner outreach and is expected to reduce downtown switching movements.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623268,"Bay City council creates Meadowlake Public Improvement District; developer to pursue annexation and infrastructure work",2781,789000,3570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead&start=789&end=3570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead/thumbnail_789000.jpg","/articles/6623268/Bay-City/Matagorda-County/Texas/Bay-City-council-creates-Meadowlake-Public-Improvement-District-developer-to-pursue-annexation-and-infrastructure-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623268-691e48227acbf8bafd66ad594dcbf32e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201806&Signature=Y6gSqEh8BMi5fUIs1BRJCVQBsx17VDshXkoGBTYLnEhT4cP44yQ2z5ggV~uwoeEB~DObBafcQhWDPoausKuO6HpAJ5at9NMt2Oslqxqi9EmgJWBIGcVzR5VcYdT5DfJNWAQEGa4tGz1N6~I-dvDni3ttUpNXuu~kGjFH5rB9Hxs1gwVayq3rxBNRUvl1bLeAruHYDVjqiHcc4DvKO1DWZohXW563W652AhX7QR2J5Rhnn34EPsTtg0Ns3E2c0WTqxdZsW0aHsjO1bu5sAUZQWhCZdfjoPLzX0qXgru5juY6V~S0L2hkioW-uB5x9yx9jGAzNzRrLmALdxyECMf9NAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bay City City Council voted to create the Meadowlake Public Improvement District (PID) in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction following a public hearing and developer presentation.

Developer Brian Gerard of Gerard Development and Bay City 50 LLC presented conceptual site plans and renderings of proposed amenities, and said staff and the development team provided hard copies of updated designs. The project was described in the hearing as a single‑family subdivision with roughly 200 lots; the developer said streets within the PID would be new concrete and that the development would provide a secondary access that also serves the city's water-plant access.

Mike Ferdinand of the Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation urged council to consider the PID favorably, saying workforce housing is critical to the county’s economic future and that the rail and industrial base make housing important for industry recruitment. City staff said the PID area is currently outside city limits in the ETJ and that voluntary annexation and connection to city utilities will be conditions in subsequent development agreements.

Scotty Jones, city manager, reviewed next steps and said creation of the PID allows the developer to proceed with certain infrastructure activities after the statutory waiting period; staff noted a 20‑day window before some developer actions can commence. Staff also said the packet contains estimated tax‑increment and revenue projections and that council will consider a development agreement with detailed development standards and annexation terms at a later meeting.

Council adopted the resolution to create the Meadowlake PID; the motion carried with affirmative votes and no opposition recorded in the meeting audio. Council and staff signaled follow-up actions: finalize the development agreement, coordinate annexation steps, and return progress updates to the council.","After a public hearing the City Council adopted a resolution creating the Meadowlake Public Improvement District in the city's ETJ. Staff and the developer described plans for roughly 200 residential lots and said voluntary annexation and connection to city utilities are conditions moving forward.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623273,"Bay City council approves development agreements, PID creation and multiple administrative contracts",323,3785000,4108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead&start=3785&end=4108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776069-bb50fa1fbd75bd651dc95f9899d92ead/thumbnail_3785000.jpg","/articles/6623273/Bay-City/Matagorda-County/Texas/Bay-City-council-approves-development-agreements-PID-creation-and-multiple-administrative-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623273-b762c6c06e489192606657e915e99575/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201806&Signature=kKBDamWtnd7YBZtQ5tCOhynA4yZkzZxM191w35vJMwmFnfldDceS6Oq5bdeNjZkZZ0GOafLbr08LI-AdfU4TSQCVhZmnwtLzyV3NMJUE6jWlEqZKJtSSs0bVBYDqpoaA77HH8S3PBEAg1s4oeg0bEua2tp0RMVn9ntL29NarzjAtj6QnWbKV6tCVK9jlKvyAEKade504ZLZJbpnDPzkFpIa1Umu6k5rVn1Ub3fjFF~ujlbNKHjam-C60IZUsEYawLRX6qbTaQQW7A0jnEJaPryKi29Q6Xl20h1qrlTaZqisuzmh6C6HYSqFFvjfmZYZXRHXJb~zk2m7Tsd1YePiG1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bay City City Council voted on several administrative and economic-development items during its March meeting, approving minutes on the consent agenda and taking final action on requests ranging from a college funding support letter to downtown redevelopment and a public improvement district.

Council approved a letter of support for Wharton County Junior College’s (WCJC) funding request for expansion of a trade school that would serve Bay City. The council motion to sign the letter carried with affirmative votes and no recorded opposition.

The council also approved a 380 economic development agreement between the City and developers Ryan Leissner and Julio Gonzales to support rehabilitation of the historic Texas Theater in downtown Bay City. The agreement is structured in phases with performance-based reimbursements and uses a mix of potential funding sources noted in the staff report, including federal and state historic tax credits and assistance from the Texas Historical Commission. Council voted to approve the agreement; the motion carried.

Separately, after a public hearing earlier in the meeting, council adopted a resolution creating the Meadowlake Public Improvement District (PID) in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Staff and the developer described the subdivision as roughly 200 lots (developer-provided estimate) and said the project would proceed with voluntary annexation into the city and connection to city utilities. Creation of the PID allows the developer to proceed with certain infrastructure actions after the statutory waiting period; council’s motion to create the PID carried.

Council awarded a construction contract for the City Hall weatherproofing project to TDC Waterproofing Restoration LLC working under Garland Design Build Solutions (Omnia cooperative contract). The low base bid listed in the meeting packet was $104,009.26; an alternate scope that adds an elastomeric exterior coating was listed in the packet at approximately $133,730.90. The project includes brick sealing, window resealing and specified concrete/sidewalk corrections; the contract passed.

The council carried a consent agenda approving meeting minutes from workshops and regular meetings in February and early March, and there were no roll-call oppositions recorded in the meeting minutes presented.

Where motions were recorded in the public record, council members voiced the affirmative 'aye' and no formal roll-call tallies with named yes/no votes were recorded in the on-the-record audio for these items. Staff indicated follow-up steps for implementation where applicable, including development agreements, next steps on annexation and posting of awarded contracts.","At its March meeting the Bay City City Council approved consent minutes, a letter supporting Wharton County Junior College funding, a 380 economic development agreement for the Texas Theater, creation of the Meadowlake Public Improvement District in the city’s ETJ, and a city hall weatherproofing contract award.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges more Spanish-language voting materials and clarity on tourism duties; communications staff outline outreach and video series

Bay City Police chief presents 2024 annual report; department cites lower crime index and expanded training

Union Pacific and LyondellBasell present proposed 4.5‑mile rail connection to Bay City site

Bay City council creates Meadowlake Public Improvement District; developer to pursue annexation and infrastructure work

Bay City council approves development agreements, PID creation and multiple administrative contracts