[{"_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",6471235,"mediaKeyId","5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50","parentId",5778420,"title","Council approves consent agenda, names Bird and Butterfly Park; OKs vehicle and budget amendment","audioSeconds",187,"startMs",1863000,"endMs",2050000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50&start=1863&end=2050","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50/thumbnail_1863000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471235/Texas/Council-approves-consent-agenda-names-Bird-and-Butterfly-Park-OKs-vehicle-and-budget-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471235-02b0930f5fd30b4d449c083343999567/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963150&Signature=UkJlqrtrgDY8LVvqp5Ilzq81E9bvzR-agvZ35bJAuobh6vmntOErxfXMR~CPbyaB2TIVJaSOyEpugNHpMUPeeLCvWRWxbeK0VGncvsAKFoj17TgiqG4vUmGQbOPkbdjgFer4BCpD4ycstHgklv9Hr5r3p59msANLdc8Gixgg3uSrGs5HFnU3Ridb3c4snKqq6MdHWocZzTf7E~XXMfF4jBuDdfn7Y~47Em8GFHul3CL5qne1rqRGQrHsFGm9efGoRnf77vdWf89RyipoH48dm4Iu0R~8voBk4jITyae6cTSyeT32Z0vhBakdEA~zAuV1Qh-0lIlTPNeUDLkRyyAsAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Padre Island","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","The South Padre Island City Council approved its consent agenda and several discrete items on the meeting agenda by voice vote.

Naming the Sandbox: Council approved a motion to officially name the community planting area known informally as the “sandbox” the South Padre Island Bird and Butterfly Park and authorized staff to pursue grants and enhancements. Council member Lisa presented the proposal, saying the space is at the base of the causeway and that staff and volunteers had planted native species for birds and butterflies. The motion to approve the name was seconded and carried on voice vote.

Budget amendment and vehicle purchase: Council approved a budget amendment from general fund excess reserves of $53,555 for the purchase and outfitting of one Ford F‑150 for the Environmental Health Department. Fleet manager Ricardo Chavez Jr. was introduced during the item and the council moved and seconded the budget amendment; the motion carried on voice vote. Council also approved the replacement/outfitting as part of the same consent items.

Consent agenda: The council moved to approve the consent agenda, motion seconded and approved on voice vote.

Why it matters: The actions covered routine municipal business — naming a small public space to enable grant applications, maintaining the city fleet for environmental health operations and approving standard consent items — rather than new policy changes or major contracts.

ACTIONS (summary): Consent agenda approved (voice vote); Motion to name the Sandbox the South Padre Island Bird And Butterfly Park — approved (voice vote); Budget amendment of $53,555 for one Ford F‑150 outfitting — approved (voice vote). The transcript records the motions and that the motions carried by affirmative voice votes but does not provide a roll‑call tally.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Padre Island - CITY COUNCIL","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved the consent agenda and unanimously adopted several routine items: designating the Sandbox as the South Padre Island Bird and Butterfly Park, approving a $53,555 budget amendment to buy and outfit a Ford F‑150 for Environmental Health, and approving a fleet replacement purchase.","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},6471239,"Council approves request to collect letters from property owners before finalizing SPI Ecotourism District",694,2076000,2770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50&start=2076&end=2770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50/thumbnail_2076000.jpg","/articles/6471239/Texas/Council-approves-request-to-collect-letters-from-property-owners-before-finalizing-SPI-Ecotourism-District","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471239-22c64f80e355ff356b1de30c0d441f7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963150&Signature=og3485K9Qv08ucJfl477aYJ10QIT2bT9R-wgpOaTKJsJ7ZXz7Fav1lHO7koNNVIa-bn2ew6odsRxZuTW9t0Zg7BNfdaJWjHMvmZSet6l6Z9LxpcDIi7mblqfO3Z67bkKRkP0tHmjNAHCItvjY55ikus3lGepWomltaOoV3MhtlPJv5GljioPbZNsvAzXG9plcwGZwmuQCuzXkeedW2T4f6UiIcGYtTuErFDz9Anaw07vQHlywfwKG-TX9XwLszDFQb6gbJSzrGN~dr5HF6AmcbtaSvq9BNJ0sRJP5nARbOP-~dwn6Z1GOD8Gso1CedeR9BHUI8yldmFQ~hmaEyyb9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Carrie presented a proposal to designate a stretch of land west of Padre Boulevard — from the north side of the convention center to the south side of Sea Turtle Inc. — as the South Padre Island Ecotourism District, which she said would highlight local birding and marine habitat and support conservation-minded tourism.

Carrie told council the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved forwarding the plan for council consideration and noted possible partnerships with academic and conservation groups. “The Spi Ecotourism District will encompass Sea Turtle Inc to the South, the Birding And Nature Center and the Convention Center to the North,” Carrie said, urging preservation of native habitat regardless of any convention center project.

Councilmember Ken and other members cautioned that several outside parties — including the county, water districts and AEP — own or influence parcels in the area and that the city did not yet have formal county permission regarding any convention center naming or expansion. Ken said he had found no opposition to creating the district but reiterated the absence of written commitments from the county and from insurers related to any convention center expansion.

Councilmember Joe moved — and a second was received — to ask staff and Councilman Schwartz to meet with all property owners in the proposed district and request letters of support; the motion carried unanimously on voice vote. Councilmembers said no funds for projects would be expended before the outreach and confirmation of support.

Why it matters: designation would formally group a portion of the island for ecotourism promotion and may open opportunities for grants and partnerships; the council conditioned next steps on documented property‑owner support and further coordination with county and other stakeholders.

ACTIONS: Motion to have staff and Councilman Schwartz gather letters of support from property owners — motion seconded and carried (voice vote).","Council voted to ask staff and Councilman Schwartz to meet with property owners in the proposed SPI Ecotourism District and collect letters of support before taking further action on the district designation.",{"_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},6471243,"Developers present environmental findings and preliminary design for proposed South Padre deepwater marina",928,374000,1302000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50&start=374&end=1302","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50/thumbnail_374000.jpg","/articles/6471243/Texas/Developers-present-environmental-findings-and-preliminary-design-for-proposed-South-Padre-deepwater-marina","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471243-2e637332b4c7044566484febedfeb7c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963150&Signature=DMu9qMqjf1O11xeSBDcJ3YRPpXkhNz19~-9UJFFdtYWo2hw8sYHShuAW5JgBz0ecVt0-XNi71ZW7x-kkc7OHzUx~4oVuu9qizREkSvdvoHkYRC-JYECij8wCd8pIr0Dm~IGw8oD0xmmfwVzMJQJXG4CFUIEabLrPxWBFRVOdnyyYn-uw-xt4--LqfTTykryJ9Px5AD6fYvhfIB1oRJYrjeZ8d4iyuHMX6Fglb~rWVMJPj~X7p7mT0d6Dn4FhSCXOW8IWaHjOMnJINvr4t4s6GOjDnbeCjqT8~w-wBUt3dXmPPYs76Iog49PSlU2KinDSp14HOQQ9oO5lFWvD6FexOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greg Weicamp of Edgewater Resources and consultant Phil Henley presented a progress update on a proposed South Padre Island deepwater marina and wider “South Padre Island Marine Park.” Weicamp described the marina as a catalyst within a larger plan of constructed islands intended to protect the facility, create habitat and manage sedimentation.

“...we do not wanna disturb 1 more blade of seagrass than we absolutely have to,” Weicamp said, describing the project’s aim to avoid and then minimize impacts to seagrass, mangroves and oysters before mitigating unavoidable effects. He said the team has focused on two candidate sites, rejected the Sea Ranch location after county issues, and is now advancing work at the Causeway site.

Phil Henley summarized recent fieldwork: high‑resolution drone imagery, transect seagrass surveys on 200‑foot spacing, ground truthing of mangrove lines, topographic surveys supplemented by LIDAR where possible and an upcoming bathymetric survey scheduled to start Thursday of the work week. Henley reported that an existing channel through the site has no seagrasses or oysters inside it and measured roughly 180 feet wide at the north and south ends and 150 feet in the center — findings that Henley said could allow a public boardwalk through the channel while preserving boat transit lanes.

Weicamp described engineering and modeling underway to design a network of islands that would reduce wave energy, control sedimentation and maintain water flow for habitat connectivity. He said hydrodynamic models are being refined and that the project team will submit permit applications to the State of Texas and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when the alternatives analysis and mitigation plans are complete.

Design features shown to council included an 18–20 foot‑wide public boardwalk, shelters, kayak/paddlecraft kiosks and provisions for public access and education. Weicamp and Henley referenced a comparable completed project in Fort Pierce, Florida, to illustrate long‑term habitat outcomes.

Why it matters: the project proposes engineered islands and a protected harbor intended to reduce the need for frequent dredging, add public waterfront access and create new habitat. The council received the update; no permitting approvals or funding commitments were requested or made during this meeting.

ACTIONS: No formal motions or votes were taken on the marina at this meeting; the presentation was an informational update.","Edgewater Resources updated the council on field surveys, hydrodynamic modeling and preliminary design for a proposed deepwater marina and associated marine park intended to limit dredging and create habitat islands and public access.",{"_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},6471248,"Public criticizes council's move to raise procurement threshold as staff explains new state rule",1749,101000,1850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50&start=101&end=1850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778420-65b05e48c4287844f00b20c94f9a5f50/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6471248/Texas/Public-criticizes-councils-move-to-raise-procurement-threshold-as-staff-explains-new-state-rule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471248-2f22bf09c0b5d3115f94190b00dfbe2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963150&Signature=Cx2dRISxvbUwpV6ZLEfpdfVaWMyEYnBOVrozFfnm2UKSjlP3~Ohn-cwplvdgTrcmVRbyzR0IwePmfOOBS39n3UQVE9iOXBxsUGRgSUBNzTnmgwdo-nj7QrS1GRSaF0t0eMeDAzkKZnG2kNAo2HsjBqcEg5Y0Y~428ZmqId-1h7n5N4SXeYGhVwXrvmZjlcWNQufJws06iFschTEyWe~xr84ItA-PFZlLa0a79GZuoLdTAuJSswhhirFfZehLo5GcusuOnu1F15sLii8ncHk6GUMrh8ECkKjc1edUgin7hl-e1HVilVXjL8frrKG1G5KACfC1RzAEzAwS~Tv5BCOqOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","ERIN HARTWELL, a member of the public, told the South Padre Island City Council that its recent 4–1 vote to raise the local competitive-bidding threshold raised concerns about transparency and potential procurement abuses. “Raising the threshold now in the middle of those…when potential abuse of the current thresholds has not even been addressed. That's not transparency. That's not accountability,” Hartwell said during public comment.

City staff responded with a presentation summarizing the state law change behind the council action and how the city will implement it. A staff member identified in the meeting as Rod said the change follows Senate Bill 1173 and that the state threshold for formal competitive procedures increased from $50,000 to $100,000 effective Sept. 1. “Basically, it raised the threshold from 50,000 to $100,000,” Rod said. He explained that the state process requires advertising an RFP twice (roughly $700 per ad) and several weeks of preparation and review, which the state cited as a reason for raising the threshold.

Rod and council members outlined operational impacts: departments will still obtain quotes for purchases under $100,000, exemptions at the state level remain, and no payment is authorized without an approved budget. Rod emphasized that the city posts expenditures in the meeting packet and maintains a transparency portal. “All payments issued by the city of South Padre Island are taken for city council approval,” he said, noting the consent agenda provides further public visibility.

Why it matters: Hartwell and other speakers framed the timing of the local change — adopted by council after a state option became available — as problematic given unresolved internal questions about purchases just under prior thresholds. Staff framed the change as required by state procedures for certain procurements and said the city retains other transparency practices.

Council discussion included steps members may take to restore additional transparency beyond the state baseline, such as retaining a lower local threshold for council review if they choose. The council did not reverse its prior vote during the meeting; staff said departments will follow the new state-linked procurement process for purchases subject to the $100,000 threshold.

ACTIONS AT THIS MEETING: The council approved a purchasing policy update at a previous meeting to align with the state threshold change; details about that prior vote (individual roll-call) were not included in the transcript excerpt.","A public speaker and staff debated the council's recent decision to align local purchasing thresholds with a new state law that raised the competitive-bid threshold from $50,000 to $100,000; staff said the change is mandatory for state-level procurement procedures and emphasized existing transparency practices.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent agenda, names Bird and Butterfly Park; OKs vehicle and budget amendment

Council approves request to collect letters from property owners before finalizing SPI Ecotourism District

Developers present environmental findings and preliminary design for proposed South Padre deepwater marina

Public criticizes council's move to raise procurement threshold as staff explains new state rule