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Alpine council approves pool contract, first readings of two ordinances and several resolutions; takes no action on one variance
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Summary
Council voted unanimously on multiple items including a pool renovation contract with Landmark Aquatic, first readings for a rezoning and a library ordinance, ratified a HIDTA grant submission, passed a freight-rail support resolution, amended and approved a border-wall resolution, approved one historic-preservation variance and deferred action on another due to a property encroachment.
At its March 3 meeting, the Alpine City Council moved through a slate of action items spanning land use, grants, contracts and policy resolutions.
Packages and ordinances
- Rezoning (Ordinance 2026-03-01): Council approved the first reading to rezone the south 69.44 feet of Lot 6 & 7 at 707 E Avenue F from R-2 to C-1 to permit neighborhood-scale commercial uses. Planning and Zoning recommended approval; the council voted unanimously on first reading.
- Library ordinance (Ordinance 2026-03-02): Council approved the first reading to recognize the Alpine Public Library as a civic/cultural institution and to exempt it from competing for community services grants; the first reading passed unanimously.
Resolutions and grants
- HIDTA grant ratification (Resolution 2026-03-01): Council ratified the city manager's submission of a $191,773 application to the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program to continue regional intelligence and enforcement coordination; council approved unanimously.
- Freight rail resolution (Resolution 2026-03-02): Council approved a resolution supporting freight rail's role in economic development and authorized participation in a joint letter to the Texas congressional delegation on surface-transportation reauthorization.
- Border-wall resolution (Resolution 2026-03-03): After debate and a Stevens-proposed amendment that explicitly encouraged non-physical, technology-based security (CCTV/IR sensors and solutions that minimize light pollution and protect wildlife/tourism), council adopted the amended resolution expressing concern about physical border-wall construction in the Big Bend region.
Variances and permits
- Variance 2026-02-02 (David Collier & Gregory O'Neil): Approved to preserve and renovate an existing historic structure at 202 W Diego Ave; council discussed the possibility of a future ordinance to reduce repetitive variance requests for predate structures.
- Variance 2026-02-01 (Nancy Whitlock): Council took no action after staff identified a property-encroachment complication — the subject building partially sits on a neighbor's lot and negotiation over the needed 6 feet was in dispute; staff characterized this as a civil property issue and the council declined action pending resolution.
Contracts
- Municipal pool renovation (Landmark Aquatic): Council approved a negotiated contract from Landmark Aquatic for full pool renovation at a reduced price of approximately $337,618.80 (negotiated down from an initial bid of $371,063.70). Staff identified available reserves and general-fund lines that could be reallocated; a budget amendment will follow.
Vote summary: The council recorded unanimous votes for the listed approvals and the ratification actions; where council deferred (Whitlock variance), staff identified civil encroachment as the reason for taking no action.
Next steps: Staff will return with required budget amendments and detailed contract execution documents for the pool; planning staff will track the Whitlock encroachment resolution and bring the matter back if/when the property dispute is resolved.
