[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6565182,"mediaKeyId","3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737","parentId",3220883,"title","Visit South Padre Island reports higher spring-break occupancy, targets Texas drive markets in summer campaign","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",1469000,"endMs",1646000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737&start=1469&end=1646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737/thumbnail_1469000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565182/Texas/Visit-South-Padre-Island-reports-higher-spring-break-occupancy-targets-Texas-drive-markets-in-summer-campaign","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565182-da3ba8493f9a3b3686e00f28a4155698/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035371&Signature=SBrHVvFLFmMsDBeWnUB-3kdZyrml2hirz1qb4LSjWrTKL5SP-NvbLh49byz4jup5wjAJI11F6mZ0xWZSMew3EhGPuKqHr5fG0uqcjVCw6Xsg1z51WTG5fc4vex0fK9v7gXUc2etCtPd84TCh8rQVhf-o3-wYxTl5OxATq8xGx6arONpuOirge30jXlIWP0XNJjNT2nwu7SmqraAtN-zVe7hMCez1XSwFJKhGuVXWeHfpVDGHTOZcI6mM~FjKTBfbkzlATW-QjX1unPIq6dRfC~BfGEvx5NnUaNREYxFsdPodPG8hkZwNxozXBnuSCpMtoG-8-t35vmk3PK2ola845Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Padre Island","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","Blake Henry, representing Visit South Padre Island (VISIT SBI), briefed the council on spring-break and Easter visitation, partner impacts and the tourism office’s marketing plan for summer 2025.

Henry said vacation-rental occupancy averaged 80 percent over spring break — a 15.3 percent increase from 2024 — and motel occupancy averaged 76 percent, about 6.25 percent higher than in 2024. He said VISIT SBI conducted more than 600 visitor surveys over spring break and that the destination saw notable increases in family visitors from Houston and first-time visitors from markets such as New York, Minnesota and Connecticut. Henry also reported partner-level increases: Sea Turtle Inc. saw a 30 percent increase from last year, and restaurant and food-and-beverage receipts were reported up as well.

“Spring break 2025 at South Padre Island spanned two weeks of great weather and notable growth in vacation rental occupancy,” Henry said. He added that a popular convention-center concert drew about 3,800 attendees and that hotel tax revenue for March—Henry said, “our hotel occupancy sat at 1,400,000, I believe, which beat the city's budget”—contributed to a stronger month overall.

Henry said VISIT SBI onboarded a new agency of record, Greenhouse, and launched a summer campaign on April 1 that prioritizes the Texas drive market (Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and nearby Central Texas markets) to convert interest into bookings using trackable digital media and partnerships (including activations with the San Antonio Spurs and Austin FC). He said Mexico remains a targeted market, especially for Easter and shoulder-season travel.

Councilmembers asked for a breakdown of the survey data; Henry said he would share more detailed results at an upcoming “Coffee and Conversation” event with the Chamber. No action was required or taken; the council thanked Henry for the briefing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Padre Island - CITY COUNCIL - May 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Visit South Padre Island presented spring-break and Easter visitation data showing higher occupancy versus 2024 and outlined a summer marketing campaign focused on Texas drive markets and recent agency hires.","taxTitle","South Padre , Cameron County, Texas","taxId",57359,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6565187,"Workforce Solutions CEO briefs council on local labor market and offers services to align training with employer needs",212,208000,420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737&start=208&end=420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737/thumbnail_208000.jpg","/articles/6565187/Texas/Workforce-Solutions-CEO-briefs-council-on-local-labor-market-and-offers-services-to-align-training-with-employer-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565187-6050e5f6f1391d6e54e5f1cd38e4dce1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035371&Signature=oxPYtd1WTLr5KORQeyxjiKjK0TK~zErEQfsEAh0xDVjRCK3bML1aVdGKLLSrRa55FxsblYiq~FAoLsEEf3WRbfg-Tx-tpJvwRTjHeI9Ykmbf4sPiNjtAMFIf-RhSCmqf6DFRk1TzBA5Oy7wMxcBeIJMVU2NSG6RVQjHFmPvOHn2R4O4i~aPKMHTdScQdw5-vucfA9giL1D2DGlWcXOtCIyrjlBKAt4OyuqIDWWt7lj~4SI8dBJZx5p4OrD0k0ph3N1jFF10RSzETsFLURya5MyzxqUXZEzVmejUlGI~zFaBqmrfLWFZkkgnB5rFBj5uvhPeCv1ZxYv4tBvlMK-Lw7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rafael Vela, chief executive officer of Workforce Solutions Cameron, gave a brief presentation to the council describing the agency’s role and local labor-market data and urged closer alignment between workforce services, K‑12 feeders and area employers.

Vela told the council that Workforce Solutions Cameron serves three customer groups: job seekers, incumbent workers seeking upskilling and employers needing workers. He said his service area is Cameron County and that Texas Workforce Commission provides oversight and funding. He described a county labor force of about 170,000 employed people and noted there are hundreds of distinct occupations and 20 industries represented locally.

“The biggest piece of the pie is healthcare and social assistance,” Vela said of the county employment breakdown, adding that healthcare accounted for about 29 percent of employment and that retail, accommodation and food service and education were other large sectors. He said Workforce Solutions maintains occupational counts — for example the county has about 2,188 heavy tractor-trailer drivers and about 3,768 general operations managers — and that this granular data helps guide training and education partnerships.

Vela said Workforce Solutions has 140 staff across its programs and offered to return with more detailed briefings: “please invite me back or anybody from my team. We are here to be of service to you all.” Council members thanked him and asked for follow-up material and contact points for workforce specialists.

Vela also presented a long-term view of median household income for Cameron County versus Texas and the U.S., noting the county’s median household income lags state and national figures and describing that disparity as a continuing local challenge. He asked the council to use the agency’s labor-market information to inform decisions about local training and economic development partnerships.

The council did not take any action on the presentation but thanked Workforce Solutions for the briefing and invited staff to coordinate follow-up.","Rafael Vela, CEO of Workforce Solutions Cameron, presented labor-market data including employment counts, dominant industries, and occupational breakdowns, and offered the agency's services to support job seekers, incumbent workers and employers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6565192,"Council approves 10-month payment plans for two hotel owners after partial payments; checks must clear or injunction could be enforced",750,2124000,2874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737&start=2124&end=2874","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737/thumbnail_2124000.jpg","/articles/6565192/Texas/Council-approves-10-month-payment-plans-for-two-hotel-owners-after-partial-payments-checks-must-clear-or-injunction-could-be-enforced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565192-eb63311c540eac2faeddb6b8c34887c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035371&Signature=m31C5os31y43NptsFycjUvT6tLVsK8~9Ok7RpeOXHaxt5-z4gK3FvL7vVTREnnvXE2PJF2WjciSBsoof7rnNUroq0FUNKPAHRcKyuvVqcEiGiKDVsHcH8eMDo-a0GDp5r9IGiy5PNJYtBPx~kpvzCDxDHLy8WncJfl48Q9tHctxSZymgqfDDbPdFnpQ8td-ZN7fTuLwd3be0wu4fSNFBz1ui0dGBi9NuINQDhyAeWBPH5Ww897tJIxdm7gFCzLSlxaUrVmOOtHFyKiC04rBj0OaCkZ0TFepFJjvvH05OY3j~AgYj2HzDUV9xRG~tdvT4pUVj8SjGjO6wQgj4FkwivQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Padre Island City Council on a voice vote agreed to structured payment plans for two hotel owners who arrived at the meeting with partial or full payments toward long‑standing past‑due hotel/motel occupancy-tax balances and who requested waivers of penalties and interest.

City staff told the council that as of the meeting one owner (the Ramada/Island Inn properties) had an outstanding balance including penalties and interest of roughly $447,000 to $448,000 and that he paid $363,835.93 by cashier’s check that day. Staff said the remaining balance consisted principally of penalties (about $51,000) and interest (about $32,000) totaling about $84,000. The owner asked the council to waive penalties and interest; council members discussed precedent and fairness to other businesses before amending a motion to remove penalties and interest that accrued for specified months in 2023 from the total and to place the remainder under a 10‑month payment plan beginning June 1. The council required that the owner remain current on future tax filings while on the payment plan.

Council and staff noted that some of the unpaid months dated back to 2023 and that the city had taken legal steps (including an injunction) after other collection efforts. The city’s attorney and staff said the cashier’s checks must clear; if any check does not clear council authorized staff to proceed with the court-ordered enjoinment.

In a separate but similar case involving Continental Inn LLC (Sunchase Inn Suites, Super 8 and WindWater Resort), staff reported a balance of $392,190.82 that included penalties and interest of $77,881.40. The owner, identified in the record as Mr. Manoharan, paid $314,309.42 that day and became current on recent tax filings, and requested a waiver of penalties and interest. Council approved a 10‑month payment plan beginning June 1 contingent on cleared funds and regular current filings; council members again declined to waive attorney fees or filing costs at this time but discussed including those recoverable costs on future delinquent accounts.

Council discussion was extensive and at times pointed. One councilmember noted that the taxes are collected from guests and billed to the city for public uses, saying, “you collected money from your guests … you used it for other things and that's a misuse of trust.” Another member emphasized the city’s need to avoid setting a precedent that encourages delinquency. The city attorney said the city had incurred legal and filing work to pursue collection and estimated attorney time and costs that could be added to future recoveries, though the council chose not to add attorney fees to the current arrangements.

The motions for both owners include these conditions: the immediate payments presented at the meeting must clear the issuing banks, the owners must enter a 10‑month payment plan beginning June 1 for the remaining penalties and interest (with certain 2023 penalty months removed from one package by amendment), and the owners must remain current on future tax filings or face enforcement action including possible injunction and closure of properties.

The council recorded the votes as carried after discussion. City staff will verify the cashier’s checks with the banks and return to the council if the payments fail to clear.","Owners of multiple hotels paid large portions of past-due hotel/motel occupancy taxes and were granted 10-month payment plans for remaining penalties and interest, contingent on cleared funds and staying current on future filings.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6565197,"Council approves multiple budget amendments for parks, beach restoration, fleet and police technology; tables fire-station access control",467,751000,1218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737&start=751&end=1218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220883-3996390b0b3a71446edc17fc91d46737/thumbnail_751000.jpg","/articles/6565197/Texas/Council-approves-multiple-budget-amendments-for-parks-beach-restoration-fleet-and-police-technology-tables-fire-station-access-control","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565197-2bdee762c408a1b4053fb07c88562434/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035371&Signature=iKNorG36alPaLbkopUmC8G5aVQZUQIOAp2ZPtg5qYBXyETBRK1a~fk1idC9E-9WbgKG6ZhQhknrorYJ3Q7PUh86pZ3PqXKx01d0EEMinCDljhk4~V6yKQXmnDjcK~~04YM4tkxMhV-ki1cN6mHtOyVCC3KC-M-56MWzHme5usCaoGyiRS9usME6wTminup8sWsisCh114ghA-d~4PQBnUhVEVxX~BEwpJuSPRtrOf4lNo4~lYh0D-U8tzX7l0ljhPq7DgeEAjvvoL-EYgC6Eb8jsRXExksUgkpH63rNtfzG8AJGRnRSYZ55q6KXgQdVpvd96PkmfUzoIVFexZ~fNtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","South Padre Island City Council on an overall voice vote approved several budget amendments on items ranging from park repairs and dune restoration to vehicle replacements and police technology, and tabled a request to upgrade the fire station access-control system pending a more detailed cost breakdown.

The council approved a $15,510 budget amendment to repair structural elements and replace the roof at Turtle Park Pavilion. City staff said four bids were received and recommended awarding the work to cover structural repairs and the roof. A councilmember moved to approve, another seconded, and after no further discussion the motion carried.

Council also approved a $600,000 allocation for a dune-restoration project under the Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) Cycle 13; staff said expected reimbursable grant funds total $360,000. The allocation will come from the City’s beach-renourishment account (Fund 81).

The council approved an $84,000 budget amendment from Beach Maintenance excess reserves to replace two beach vehicles identified as SL201 (an F-250) and SL207 (a UTV). Staff said both vehicles had significant repair needs and were on the 2025 replacement list; the amendment covers purchase and outfitting (lights, undercoating and other items).

A $100,000 transfer from general-fund excess reserves to cover outstanding invoices and estimated repairs and maintenance for fire-department, public-works and code-enforcement vehicles was approved. City staff and the public-works director said the $100,000 breaks down roughly as $7,500 for environmental, $7,500 for public works and $85,000 for fire (including work on a fire truck and ladder truck); staff said about $40,000 of the $85,000 represented previously billed work.

The council approved $17,402.30 to purchase mobile data terminals (Toughbooks and related installation) for five police units. The police chief said units have been without in-car computers “well over 10, 15 years” and that installing terminals is necessary for compliance with CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) and to allow officers to retrieve records and incident information without relying solely on two‑way radio.

The council considered $17,800 for access-control upgrades and intercom repairs at the fire station but tabled the item after councilmembers requested a price breakdown. The IT director said the quoted vendor, Superior Alarms, is the only authorized dealer for the existing system and that replacing the entire system (to allow multiple vendors to service it) would require also replacing City Hall equipment at a significantly higher cost. After discussion the council voted to table the access-control item to the next meeting to allow staff to supply detailed line-item pricing and options.

Votes at a glance
- Turtle Park Pavilion roofing/structural repairs: $15,510 — motion carried.
- CEPRA Cycle 13 dune-restoration allocation: $600,000 (grant; $360,000 reimbursable) — motion carried.
- Beach vehicles replacement (SL201, SL207): $84,000 — motion carried.
- General-fund vehicle repair reserve transfer: $100,000 (public works, environmental, fire) — motion carried.
- Police mobile data terminals (5 units): $17,402.30 — motion carried.
- Fire station access control/intercom repairs: $17,800 — tabled pending detailed pricing.

Councilmembers who made or seconded motions were not consistently named in the public portion of the transcript; votes were taken by voice/hand and recorded as “motion carries” or “opposed” without roll-call tallies. Staff told the council the vehicle replacements and dune-restoration work are drawn from existing fund balances or are grant‑reimbursable and that the mobile-data purchase will be added to the city’s records-management licensing.

The council asked staff to return the access-control item with a line-item cost breakdown and options for either repairing the current proprietary system or replacing it with a system other vendors can service. The item will be considered at the next regular meeting.","At its meeting, the South Padre Island City Council approved several budget amendments covering park repairs, dune restoration grant allocation, vehicle replacements and mobile data terminals for police units, and tabled a security/access-control request for the fire station pending more detailed pricing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Visit South Padre Island reports higher spring-break occupancy, targets Texas drive markets in summer campaign

Workforce Solutions CEO briefs council on local labor market and offers services to align training with employer needs

Council approves 10-month payment plans for two hotel owners after partial payments; checks must clear or injunction could be enforced

Council approves multiple budget amendments for parks, beach restoration, fleet and police technology; tables fire-station access control