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Jourdanton council workshop focuses on financial transparency, policy updates and citizen outreach
Summary
At a March 23 workshop the Jourdanton City Council discussed prioritizing short- and long-term goals — councilmembers pressed for clearer financial reporting, review of Hotel Occupancy Tax uses, modernized accounting systems, updates to ordinances and better citizen outreach including meeting recordings and a live feed.
The Jourdanton City Council spent the workshop portion of its March 23 special meeting discussing how to prioritize the city’s short-term and long-term goals, placing particular emphasis on financial transparency, policy development and citizen engagement.
Councilmember Pamela Manning outlined three priorities she wants addressed: clarifying the city’s financial position (including where excess funds are invested and setting dates to resolve audit recommendations); reviewing uses of Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds; and establishing processes, policies and procedures. Manning framed these as foundational steps for reliable strategic and capital planning.
Councilmember Raul Morales requested an update on the city’s street project. Councilmember Katrina Wiatrek said the current financial system is “archaic” and urged modernization so the council and public can see precisely “where every single dollar is going.” Wiatrek also asked City Manager Debbie Molina for the status of creating and implementing policies and for an update on the Aquatic Center project.
Mayor Pro Tem Chester Gonzales said staff should prioritize projects and prepare for an increased workload in coming years, and he recommended updating city ordinances to support the planned work. Councilmember Karen Pesek asked how the council could get citizens more involved and accurately informed; the council discussed returning to recorded meetings, purchasing equipment to record and share a live feed of meetings, and promoting the city website’s Notify Me feature to improve outreach.
No formal action was taken on these workshop items. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. after a unanimous motion to adjourn by Councilmember Raul Morales, seconded by Councilmember Karen Pesek.
