[{"_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",6044189,"mediaKeyId","3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840","parentId",3620180,"title","Council approves second reading of ordinance raising water, wastewater and other utility fees","audioSeconds",90,"startMs",1834000,"endMs",1924000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840&start=1834&end=1924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840/thumbnail_1834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6044189/Portland/San-Patricio-County/Texas/Council-approves-second-reading-of-ordinance-raising-water-wastewater-and-other-utility-fees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044189-6cac07a655ce817598aa46a7fd4e5598/orig.mp4?Expires=1772752333&Signature=hmNwuiQBgHkrCRh2ocSWtJ5YuSw3h-~xhqGnEyO3yPEGixu~VeZzWtIa2sPqt63Pq08cuXaIqW8wxOJUjCE826N1NWA~b4Qswyv4w91RIgakl0dCP2a8wChhUoNmC4jYGSMaU2X5DSuFRUl3HpSowdUHAOXHALDhN4AMTGAJFiMFG8-nQiWkvr~xUX105uyzylkBgtpkQIl1o8XgXxnEfZT6NO0c-YIUWPeQJf~hZlMFj~gvTf7ehjCHzE6SVTn2S6pfDQjdUc0u0b1A13tMyYCVqPsxK84JYLL15b6fp~86VNz6Uj4eZx1kMDRQulKaviY8xsUPnj~O7WyLGKmw1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portland City","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Portland City Council approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 23-05 on Feb. 18, adopting increases to water and wastewater rates, utility tap fees, drainage fees and updates to the master fee schedule.

City staff told the council there were no changes to the ordinance since its first reading. Councilman Wilson moved approval of the second reading; Councilman Bethel seconded. The motion passed 4-0.

Miss Hall read the ordinance caption into the record after the vote; the caption states the ordinance amends the code of ordinances to increase rates for water and wastewater service, increase drainage fees, repeal conflicting ordinances, provide a severability clause and establish penalties and an effective date. The transcript did not include the ordinance’s effective date or specific fee schedules in full detail during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland CITY COUNCIL MEETING Feb 18, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","Portland’s City Council approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 23-05, increasing water and wastewater rates, utility tap fees, drainage fees and other fees in the master fee schedule; staff said there were no changes since the first reading.","taxTitle","Portland, San Patricio County, Texas","taxId",69593,"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},6044192,"Council adopts 2025 legislative agenda with clarified desalination discharge language",170,1594000,1764000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840&start=1594&end=1764","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840/thumbnail_1594000.jpg","/articles/6044192/Portland/San-Patricio-County/Texas/Council-adopts-2025-legislative-agenda-with-clarified-desalination-discharge-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044192-82bfe7639d2449783082f277d4527a38/orig.mp4?Expires=1772752333&Signature=fwN0BOf2yggHmaniMnAOz1V5jTdYHqWTk1uXsi1WBnmWFTa-8UtAhvZXJEro5FSJQxYMC9l6rv4Gs9aPA~qkGlpgSVN368blPGjjRs4W4ikbjCu9VRjtTl9TMmi3ium5Zx1prb0DNvEyQ2SalPajK8C8w9W1ZVTXtszj7~npRKtIQ4MQx-8CwenRlRuuLsS2K3e18cj6~g7CudrBZmzEq5YG5wWkS0JNOLkNcfsXUlx5oJBW4a8S4GCsA0R--OKLRflywWkLq2KFvaEiWeR6zcql4V4My6e4x5fx4K4~L9n5J9lf~RU1nYR8-oZJPUyRUs7aXbreISDo5slDAZ4K-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland City Council on Feb. 18 adopted Resolution 9-28, approving the city’s 2025 legislative agenda with one clarified language change concerning desalination discharge and related state oversight.

Mayor Scarreau proposed revised language to clarify the council committee’s intent on desalination discharge, saying the revision would emphasize concerns about environmental sustainability and require that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality evaluate cumulative impacts and mandate far-field studies if discharge into bays and estuaries occurs. The mayor read the proposed replacement language into the record: “The city of [makes] the case for offshore discharges the preferred method of desalination discharge and supports legislation requiring the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to evaluate cumulative impacts and for stricter regulations and mandate far field studies if discharge into bays and estuaries occurs, ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems.”

A council member also called attention to federal rulemaking relevant to CO2 and hazardous-material pipelines and encouraged interested residents to submit public comments; council staff said the city plans to provide the adopted agenda to its legislative team in Austin and to attend upcoming advocacy events on March 19, including San Patricio County Day on the Hill and the Texas Municipal League activities.

Mayor Pro Tem Green moved adoption with the proposed wording change; Councilman Wilson seconded. The council approved the resolution 4-0.

The resolution will be distributed to the city’s legislative representatives and used to guide advocacy at the state level during the 2025 legislative session.","Portland’s City Council adopted Resolution 9-28 setting the city’s 2025 legislative agenda, including a council-proposed clarification supporting offshore desalination discharge as the preferred method while requesting Texas Commission on Environmental Quality studies of cumulative impacts.",{"_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},6044198,"Council approves MediaLink contract for fiber expansion to serve Fifth & Elm and city annex",219,1357000,1576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840&start=1357&end=1576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840/thumbnail_1357000.jpg","/articles/6044198/Portland/San-Patricio-County/Texas/Council-approves-MediaLink-contract-for-fiber-expansion-to-serve-Fifth-Elm-and-city-annex","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044198-918ef6ec000ad346a2d1a62be8a82a0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1772752333&Signature=GX-h4Az0lYZNNhawU8VZL026t4AU7~hsVn2AfWM11Jv9j3IKbLSXcTxzKbujHcLUvjhew4I55yGuTCY4HrRO~QbonCwI2uN1SCK6vK7oB1TgQ7V9faxdtiPvVPq9kyCVuKE6qU5mI4Na3Y7YvglC5N5pVGzv3-o70JT52xbA7XhJBcB4HSNUE4-pWCrX~ImPN9c8yDx7mdO1wytXAH8c4ShLM4nIJLYLmxFpX6PX~rN67sC-yaxQPOvLRcY-N3xqw0DkppFjmnyIIzClRZ9YeQKBo2Jjlc5yMg30Wwf-423nMGu~LOdtCRVVWvHL64TwTzFROrBTL~w8dc58BkyYhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland City Council approved a contract on Feb. 18 with MediaLink Telecom LLC for fiber-optic expansion and connectivity in a lump-sum amount of $73,890.

City IT staff said the work will provide data, phone, building access, surveillance and Wi-Fi services for the Fifth & Elm project and the city services annex at 601 Moore by leveraging dark fiber purchased from a 2018 joint project with the school district. “Dark fiber is basically is they provide the media and we provide the equipment to put the light on it,” said the presenting staff member, explaining why the city is purchasing connectivity and equipment rather than building a new dedicated route.

The city described the procurement as a sole-source purchase because MediaLink’s existing infrastructure, built in partnership with the school district, is being subleased or sold in part to the city. The $73,890 contract is a lump-sum purchase for the installation and includes a 36-month term during which MediaLink will provide line-locate services; city staff said after the 36 months the city may seek bids for those services if desired.

Mayor Pro Tem Green moved approval; Councilman Albrecht seconded. The motion passed 4-0.

City staff said leveraging the existing MediaLink infrastructure is significantly less costly than constructing new dedicated links from the police department data center to the new facilities and that fiber installations typically have 20–30 year lifespans.","Portland approved a $73,890 contract with MediaLink Telecom LLC to connect the Fifth & Elm project and the city services annex to existing dark-fiber infrastructure; the purchase is a sole-source leveraging of prior school-district infrastructure and includes a 36-month service period for line-locate services.",{"_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},6044203,"Council approves Windfest 2025 use agreement, allocates up to $75,000 in hotel-occupancy-tax funds",684,635000,1319000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840&start=635&end=1319","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840/thumbnail_635000.jpg","/articles/6044203/Portland/San-Patricio-County/Texas/Council-approves-Windfest-2025-use-agreement-allocates-up-to-75000-in-hotel-occupancy-tax-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044203-a390451bb2b2803da2c38b9fceb5454f/orig.mp4?Expires=1772752333&Signature=H5jHW1mATuiPDoBNG~zNxYxGE-OA341hbPLozNG6E4vf7FGl4IQs81upgYzGp27qR226M9ZLeXLzy0eFcxJgXqoXYo0-MNnuIdck5F26a2rDCnd77mbwOj8mql6AVsX0zR0STBwaXv1nrzVCZU6CgXkj8omMC-Nedopko2wJ5MhF56LRQ58JDfID3o4WfoLdq8PINMOAkvhCq82vI4lXedymbRi0PjOCYxZ5wGi11LGe7GdcvMmbo4J7jTX3MfNEu3yajEpZqcijauFpn8RM3WpC-tF-7N7U6NT1FEE~Mtbecm~6lT9a9IhTESAqjZlJAgq1abxSmBQNvcROa11Pog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland City Council on Feb. 18 approved a use agreement with the Portland Chamber of Commerce for Windfest 2025 and authorized allocation of a maximum of $75,000 in hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) funds to reimburse eligible expenses.

Chamber staff said the 2025 Windfest will mark the event’s 50th anniversary, feature two headline acts (Wade Bowen Friday and Waterloo, an ABBA tribute, Saturday), expanded kids programming and a kite expo, and aims to grow attendance and regional reach. Tracy, representing the Portland Chamber of Commerce, told the council the Chamber is asking the city to keep the funding ask the same as last year: $75,000.

Tracy described event logistics and changes from past years: market vendors will be under the pavilion rather than in the soccer field, the kite and wind expos will be in the soccer fields, mutton-busting will return behind the pavilion, and the Chamber plans expanded advertising including billboards and regional media. Tracy said last year’s headliner programming increased attendance and revenues and that the Chamber turned in invoices and canceled checks to document HOT-eligible reimbursements. “The request from the city, from the, Chamber is $75,000 as it was last year,” Tracy said.

Council members asked for and received additional financial detail: city staff provided last year’s final cost number ($193,043.38) and the Chamber said it would continue to supply invoices and check copies to support reimbursements. Council members also requested trend information on attendance; Tracy said the Chamber can report credit-card ticket counts and add sponsor and volunteer counts to estimate total attendance, though cash sales and Thursday-night attendance may be recorded separately.

Councilman Wilson moved approval of the use agreement and the HOT allocation; Mayor Pro Tem Green seconded. The motion carried on a 4-0 vote.

Chamber representatives asked council members to solicit volunteers for the event; the council and staff noted an online signup at winfest.org for schedules, tickets and volunteer registration.","Portland approved a multi-day Windfest 2025 use agreement with the Portland Chamber of Commerce and authorized a maximum $75,000 allocation from hotel-occupancy-tax funds to reimburse eligible event expenses.",{"_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},6044208,"City OKs publication to start process for up to $23 million in certificates of obligation",290,243000,533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840&start=243&end=533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3620180-b6e91914311d6751652274c16b8da840/thumbnail_243000.jpg","/articles/6044208/Portland/San-Patricio-County/Texas/City-OKs-publication-to-start-process-for-up-to-23-million-in-certificates-of-obligation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044208-c51732b9396d3ee476602feafc5e4d0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1772752333&Signature=UB-LpqAR8flaWJaRx3ZCvaH1-JiayefbwwwZAdWFOPdbRx52elKY78GPgS1QiQNWc4SI4OEdYc-upPqUOCv~g6ehmUP~4BfFLWcpldHk6NbNE1tdw2a-PflLQfeTegHOodcWIsjE-WLRQvxG44yyzN~ZJ-Mh5moRazKaDbcmr5og7Rt2svoYzzK8g4zoNosYeEkusYRImWninUNOlxPBD4YxNccvln6kqJquWSzTUJcYn45WkE8oSGAakG~nzeHxZVHCyD7MXwLqtHRHoW4MM2h5UteMBu386QoJT3fDm8J5ZZFYEG9BQ8QrQMpObTCc~9KMUiBkurdn0VWD4P8ZKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland City Council on Feb. 18 approved Resolution 9-27, authorizing publication of a notice of intent to issue the city’s combination tax and limited pledge revenue certificates of obligation in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $23,000,000.

The action starts a statutory process that City financial staff said would allow the city to enter the bond market on April 22 and close on May 22 to fund projects in the city’s capital improvement plan and to refinance an existing issue.

Victor Quiroga, the city’s financial advisor, told the council the plan envisions two transactions: a certificates of obligation issuance of roughly $20 million and a separate refinancing of outstanding certificates and general obligation bonds issued in 2018. “We anticipate entering the bond market on April 22,” Quiroga said, and said the city anticipates receiving the proceeds at closing on May 22. He described a 25-year repayment term for the tax-supported component and estimated the tax-supported portion at $16,000,000, about $3.6 million supported by the utility system and $3,400,000 by the drainage fund.

Quiroga presented a preliminary estimate that the tax impact to support the $16 million tax-supported component could be about 4.21 cents per $100 of assessed value; he described that figure as preliminary and contingent on certified values expected in late July. On the refinancing, Quiroga said the city is looking to refinance roughly $7,970,000 of principal, retain the current final maturity of Aug. 15, 2038, and expected preliminary present-value savings of roughly $620,000 if market conditions hold on the April pricing date.

The resolution before the council only authorized publication of the notice of intent and began the publication process required under state law; it does not itself issue debt. Councilman Albrecht moved the resolution, Councilman Bethel seconded, and the motion carried on a 4-0 vote.

Council members asked no substantive questions during the presentation. Quiroga emphasized several times that the figures shown were preliminary and that the exact interest rates and savings will not be locked until the April pricing date.

The council’s action moves the city into the formal timeline required to seek bond-market pricing and to close on the financing under the terms outlined by the city’s financial advisor.","The Portland City Council approved a resolution to publish notice of intent to issue up to $23 million in certificates of obligation to fund capital projects and to pursue a refinancing opportunity; officials outlined an April bond-market date and a May closing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves second reading of ordinance raising water, wastewater and other utility fees

Council adopts 2025 legislative agenda with clarified desalination discharge language

Council approves MediaLink contract for fiber expansion to serve Fifth & Elm and city annex

Council approves Windfest 2025 use agreement, allocates up to $75,000 in hotel-occupancy-tax funds

City OKs publication to start process for up to $23 million in certificates of obligation