Ingleside council approves radar trailers, budget amendment and a package of capital projects
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Summary
City council approved use of hotel-occupancy tax funds to buy message/radar trailers, adopted an ordinance to appropriate funds for radars, authorized several capital contracts and closed out the new animal control facility. Staff were also authorized to negotiate design services for Cove Park improvements.
Ingleside — The City Council on the evening of the meeting approved a set of budget and procurement actions that the city says are intended to improve traffic management for events, finalize a recently completed animal control facility and move several capital projects forward.
Council voted to permit the purchase of four message/radar trailers using hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) funds and later adopted Ordinance No. 2025-14 to appropriate funds to the vehicle and equipment capital fund for Stalker/Street Dynamics radar equipment. The council also approved a final change order and final pay application to close out the new animal control facility and awarded separate contracts for standby generators at city facilities. The council gave staff authority to negotiate with a design firm selected from a request for qualifications for Cove Park improvements.
The HOT-funded equipment, described by police staff as portable message boards with radar, will be used for event traffic control and to collect baseline speed and volume data for roads leading to major events such as the Renaissance Fair and Roundup. Council members and staff discussed Attorney General guidance on HOT-fund uses and emphasized that tourism-impact criteria must be satisfied when using HOT funds for non-advertising equipment.
On the animal control project the council approved a final change order that reconciled contract quantities and authorized final payment to close the job. Gary, the project manager, told the council the change order was roughly $26,393 and the final pay application totaled $89,988.70; council approved both items by roll call.
Council approved two generator purchases for city facilities. After follow-up discussion about warranties and maintenance contracts, members voted to accept the recommended bids and to include an extended warranty option on at least one installation. Council also approved a first amendment to an existing water-tower lease and authorized staff to negotiate with Success Engineering to design Cove Park improvements.
Votes at a glance
- Purchase of message/radar trailers (HOT funds): Motion to approve use of hotel-occupancy tax funds for purchase of message/speed-warning trailers — Passed (motion made and seconded; roll call concluded with motion carries). Action: staff to proceed with procurement through cooperative purchasing.
- Ordinance No. 2025-14, FY2024–25 budget amendment (radars): Motion to approve ordinance appropriating funds for Stalker/Street Dynamics radars — Passed (deal, Wilson, Pruitt, John Salinas, Mayor Pro Tem Long, Julio Salinas voted Aye; Mayor absent). Outcome: ordinance adopted.
- Animal control facility final change order: Motion to approve final change order (amount reported ~ $26,393) — Passed. Action: change order approved to reconcile contract.
- Final pay application and project closeout, animal control facility: Motion to approve final pay application ($89,988.70) — Passed.
- Award contract to Bell’s Air Conditioning & Heating for generator at the animal control facility: Initial award passed; council later rescinded and reapproved award including a 10-year extended warranty (total reported by city manager with warranty: $42,006.78). Final vote carried (5 Aye, 1 No).
- Award contract to McWhorter’s Electric for generator at Enno Simmons elevated storage tank: Motion to award contract and associated warranty/maintenance options — Passed (total shown during discussion ~ $38,320).
- First amendment to water tower lease (GTEC): Motion to approve first amendment to existing lease — Passed.
- Authorize city manager to negotiate with Success Engineering for Cove Park improvements (RFQ response): Motion passed; staff authorized to begin negotiations.
- Resolution designating a city employee to administer minor plats: Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-13 designating Bernard Rodriguez — Passed.
- Special use permit for Texas Coastal Youth Soccer League (May event at Enno Simmons Park): Motion passed to approve the permit for May (Council member Wilson voted No; others Aye). Action: permit approved.
What happens next
Staff will implement awarded contracts, execute the purchases, and return with final invoices or status updates as required by city policy. Several items (notably generator procurements) included follow-up requests for written warranty terms and a proposed maintenance plan; staff said it will return to council with those details if adjustments are needed.
Sources and provenance
This roundup is based on the council’s public discussion and votes during the meeting; selected related transcript excerpts are cited in provenance below.
