EDC approves survey to study freestanding aquarium at Birding Nature Center

The South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation on Sept. 16 approved up to $13,000 to fund a site survey and moved to form a committee to study separating a proposed aquarium and butterfly pavilion from the Birding Nature Center.

The motion, made during agenda item 5.1, followed a presentation from Richard Franke, who said the Birding Nature Center board wants the aquarium project considered as a freestanding entity. "I would suggest or what I'd like to do is go ahead and form a new committee to study the situation and come up with the recommendations as to where we go and how we accomplish it," Franke said.

Why it matters: board members said an updated survey, revised lease language and new business and feasibility studies are needed before the project proceeds. The venue tax fund and other reserves were discussed as possible revenue sources if the project moves forward.

What the board asked for and approved: board members agreed the survey should show current improvements and how a separate aquarium footprint could be configured on the Birding Nature Center site. At the meeting one member said, "I can't imagine going to the next step without a survey," and the board then approved an amount not to exceed $13,000 for a survey of the property. The group also discussed updating the prior economic-impact and business-plan work to reflect a freestanding facility and reviewing the lease between the EDC and the Birding Nature Center to reflect separate entities.

Next steps and contingencies: presenters said the committee should return to the EDC with a scope and cost estimates for the survey, business-plan updates and any necessary attorney work to amend leases. Board members noted the possibility that, depending on funding sources (including the city’s venue tax), the project might need to be structured as a city project, which would affect how leases and governance are handled.

Community participation and staffing: Franke named potential committee participants — including local volunteers and academic experts — and suggested re-engaging the original design firm, Cambridge7, for updates. Board members asked staff to compile cost estimates for a full scope (survey, updated feasibility/business-plan, and attorney fees) and return with those estimates at a subsequent meeting.

Ending: The approved survey and a reconstituted committee are intended to produce recommendations on feasibility, site configuration, lease changes and next steps for any separate aquarium and butterfly pavilion project at the Birding Nature Center.